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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.