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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including two children, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.