Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow 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 was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian territory.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia 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 discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

In a parallel domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin has stated it is engaged with French officials regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

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 closely following the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push for his release as soon as possible.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and confiscation of assets from local residents.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.