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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.