Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Fuel Plant Using British Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This represents not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets inside Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant acts as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves formats, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Inside the Country

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

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

Foreign Prisoner Situation

The Kremlin indicated it is engaged with French officials regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of spying.

An official said that Russia has presented a proposal to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it 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

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents.

The theatre is expected to open by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt almost from scratch over the last 24 months.