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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.