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

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south 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 productive discussions with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

This case are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball 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 push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

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

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from local residents.

It is due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.