Kyiv Strikes Russian Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant escalation, Kyiv's forces have employed British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles against objectives on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary suppliers 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

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: numerous specifics, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.

This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Case

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing new charges of spying.

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

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, 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 reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called 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 accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

It is expected to open by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, having been rebuilt largely anew over the last 24 months.