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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.