Donald Trump States He Isn't Planning Providing Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, among them 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.