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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.