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

As part of a notable military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the location. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main suppliers of petrol products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held productive discussions with envoys of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “We explored some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, of course, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

In a parallel domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a pro-war 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 prison.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov shared in support of another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as politically motivated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in protest.

International Detainee Situation

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

An official stated that Russia has made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all government services mobilised to provide consular support and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Controversial Reopening in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its cellar, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of critics and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens.

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