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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.