Trump States He Is Not Planning Sending Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.