Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Fuel Plant Using UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the location. This represents not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying 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 productive discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a very productive conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns approaches, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was given to six years in prison.

This case are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French officials regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

An official said that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.