Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Oil Refinery With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military command.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it involves formats, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov shared backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French authorities regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of espionage.

An official stated 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 stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have called the reopening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

The theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.