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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two children, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.