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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, including two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.