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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.