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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.