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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.