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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.