Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities indicated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources mobilised to provide consular support and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the last 24 months.