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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.