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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.