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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.