Trump States He Is Not Contemplating Sending Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces 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, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.