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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east 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 personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.