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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.