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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major 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 eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners 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've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.