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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.