Trump States He Isn't Planning Providing Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.

FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.