Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery Using UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil refinery. This strike occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the location. This marks another instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

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

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

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

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official stated that Russia has presented a proposal 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 mobilised to offer assistance and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, 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 largely anew over the last 24 months.