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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.