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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades 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 Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.