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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily 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, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.