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FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.