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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.