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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.