Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official stated that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to present its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.