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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions 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 New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.