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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.