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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.