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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.