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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.