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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.