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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.