🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past 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 fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.