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

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil processing facility. This strike 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 reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the site. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

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

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was given to six years in prison.

This case are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

An official said that Russia has presented a proposal 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 working to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by 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 Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the last 24 months.