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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.