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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.