Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated 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.

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, 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 schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of espionage.

An official 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 stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

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