Trump Affirms He Isn't Considering Supplying Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.