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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, among them two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.