Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

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

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This represents another instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war 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.

This case are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

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

An official said 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.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of critics and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years.