Donald Trump Affirms He Is Not Contemplating Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.