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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.