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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.