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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.