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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.