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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.