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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region 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 personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.