Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery Using UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

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

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the location. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the main providers of petrol products in southern Russia and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. 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 online post Udaltsov published backing another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

Foreign Prisoner Case

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

An official said that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, 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 past two years.