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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.