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

In a significant escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

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

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

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

It is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.