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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.