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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases 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 two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.