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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on 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 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.