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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December arrival, as per insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.