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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.