Donald Trump States He Isn't Contemplating Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.