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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.