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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.