Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the site. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian soil.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to end the war.

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in prison.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities indicated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of espionage.

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

Controversial Reopening in Mariupol

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

However, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.