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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.