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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment 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 push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.