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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.