Donald Trump Says He Is Not Contemplating Sending Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.