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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.