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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.