Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

In a parallel domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from local residents.

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