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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. 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 Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.