Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery Using British Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions 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, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

In a parallel domestic matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov shared in support of another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

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

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all state resources working to provide consular support and push for his release as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the last 24 months.