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FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.