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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.