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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.