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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the 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 specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.