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

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the location. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

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

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian 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.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin has stated it is engaged with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all government services working to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

It is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.