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

In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Attack Particulars and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the charges as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of espionage.

An official said that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources mobilised to provide consular support and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

It is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years.