Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

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

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles against targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive discussions with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on potential pathways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty 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 prison.

The charges 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 charges as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

A spokesperson 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 stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

It is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years.