Donald Trump Affirms He Isn't Contemplating Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.