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

As part of a notable escalation, Ukrainian forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives on Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it involves formats, meetings, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

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

The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

Foreign Prisoner Case

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials regarding the case 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 presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is scheduled to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a wider Moscow effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices 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 largely anew over the last 24 months.