Trump Affirms He Isn't Considering Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.