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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. 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 area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.