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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.