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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner 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 effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, 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 male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.