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

As part of a notable escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. This strike occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the location. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered 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 social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

In a parallel domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced 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 organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin has stated it is engaged with French authorities regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of critics and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

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