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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.