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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.