Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Ukrainian forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, as stated by the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways 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 new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov shared backing another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

An official said that Russia has made an offer 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 working to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

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. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.