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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.