Donald Trump Affirms He Is Not Considering Supplying Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.