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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.