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

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French officials regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push 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 hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from local residents.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.