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

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil refinery. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian territory.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for 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” talks with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to move toward real peace closer, and it involves formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov shared 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 begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities has stated 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 new charges of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French 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 release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

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