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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.