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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.