Donald Trump Affirms He Is Not Considering Supplying Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.

Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.