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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.