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

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents another instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has convicted a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Case

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of 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 government services working to offer assistance and advocate for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have heralded the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

However, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

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