🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.