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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.