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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.