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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.