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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.