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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.