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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.