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

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the location. This marks another instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is directly involved in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all government services mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

However, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of the month with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the last 24 months.