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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends 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 Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.