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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.