Donald Trump Affirms He Isn't Planning Providing Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.