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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter 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 occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.