Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as politically motivated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

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

A spokesperson said 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 monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.