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

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This represents another instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit 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 actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head 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 group. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

Russian authorities indicated it is engaged with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has presented a proposal 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 government services mobilised to provide consular support and push for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider 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 due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.