Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Fuel Plant Using UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets inside Russian territory.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main 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 War Front

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, 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 involves approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

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

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin indicated 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 additional accusations 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.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all government services working to offer assistance and advocate for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled 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.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

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