Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Fuel Plant With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces have employed long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

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 emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the War Front

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

“We had a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Case

Russian authorities indicated it is engaged with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

A spokesperson said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” French 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 destroyed in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.