🔗 Share this article Donald Trump Affirms He Isn't Planning Sending Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv. FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer. Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down. Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies. SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment. Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment. Ukrainian 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 Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region. Recent Updates in Pokrovsk At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.” Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude. Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.