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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.