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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless 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 airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.