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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including two children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.