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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.