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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.