Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles against targets on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to end the war.

“We had a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

This case are said to be based on an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of espionage.

A spokesperson said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all government services working to offer assistance and push for his release at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.

It is due to reopen by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.