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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. 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 intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, among them two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.