Kyiv Strikes Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

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

Attack Particulars and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary providers of petrol products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

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

“It was a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

In a parallel domestic matter, a Russian court has convicted a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

An official said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

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

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and confiscation of assets from local residents.

The theatre is due to reopen by the month's end with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction largely anew over the past two years.