Trump Says He Isn't Contemplating Sending Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.