Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

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

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the main providers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

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

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of the month with a performance of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.