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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.