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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not really planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.