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

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the location. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit objectives on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered 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. “There are some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of espionage.

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors 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 accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.