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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.