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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.