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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.