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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.