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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.