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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.