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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.