Trump Says He Is Not Planning Providing Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.