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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.