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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.