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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, including 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.