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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.