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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.