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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.