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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.