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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.