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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’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 Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, among them two children, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.