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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.