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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.