Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the location. This marks another instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a really good conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition 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 organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

Russian authorities indicated it is in contact with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges 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 state resources working to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

However, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

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 past two years.