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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, 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, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.