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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.