Trump Says He Isn't Planning Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.