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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, among them two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.