Trump Affirms He Isn't Planning Providing Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.