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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.