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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.