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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.