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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.