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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.