Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, 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. The conversation focused on possible ways to end the war.

“We had a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it involves formats, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

In a parallel domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

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 confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all government services working to provide consular support and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years.