Donald Trump Says He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.