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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.