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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east 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 one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.