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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.