Donald Trump States He Isn't Planning Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.