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FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.