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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian 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 major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.