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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv 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, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.