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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.