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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.