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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.