Donald Trump Affirms He Isn't Planning Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.