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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.