Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil refinery. The attack was carried out Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the location. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent 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 are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of 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 protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

An official stated that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all government services mobilised to provide consular support and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

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