Trump Says He Isn't Considering Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.