Trump Says He Isn't Planning Sending Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.