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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.