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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.