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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.