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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.