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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.