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

As part of a notable escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward real peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Case

Russian authorities indicated it is in contact with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all government services working to provide consular support and push for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff 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 local residents.

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