Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the location. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against targets inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary providers of petrol 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 productive talks with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to bring real peace closer, and it involves formats, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.

The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published backing another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French authorities regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

An official said that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is set to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

It is due to reopen by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the last 24 months.