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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.