Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated 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 Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of espionage.

A spokesperson said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it 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 advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the last 24 months.