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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.