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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's 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 movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.