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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.