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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.