Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

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

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility 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.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

In a parallel 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 Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all government services mobilised to offer assistance and advocate for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

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 seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

It is due to reopen by the month's end with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.