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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.