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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.