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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.