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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.