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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.