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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.