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

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical 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 area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.