Trump Affirms He Isn't Considering Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.