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

In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian soil.

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

Political Discussions on the War Front

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive discussions with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French officials regarding the case 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 regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all government services mobilised to offer assistance and push for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the last 24 months.