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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.