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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.