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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.