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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.