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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, as per insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.