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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.