Donald Trump States He Is Not Considering Providing Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.