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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.