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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.