Donald Trump Affirms He Is Not Considering Providing Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.