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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.