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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.