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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.