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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.