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FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query 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 inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.