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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.