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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.