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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.