Donald Trump Says He Is Not Planning Supplying Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.