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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.