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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them two children, and cut power to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.