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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.