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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.