🔗 Share this article Donald Trump Says He Is Not Planning Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv. Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery. Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down. Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports. SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Sources One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment. Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement. Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region. Latest Developments in Pokrovsk At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.” Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude. Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.