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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.