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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.