Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main providers of petrol products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with envoys of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on possible ways to end the war.

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

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as politically motivated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all government services mobilised to provide consular support and push for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by 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 almost from scratch over the last 24 months.