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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated 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 speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.