Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Oil Refinery With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main providers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the charges as politically motivated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all government services working to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is set to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from local residents.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the last 24 months.