Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This marks another instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the primary suppliers of fuel 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, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

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

This case are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

An official stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of 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 working to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.