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

In a significant escalation, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. This strike occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" recorded at the site. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian soil.

Military spokespersons emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the War Front

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close.

“We had a really good conversation: numerous specifics, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are 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

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This case reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published backing another group of Russian activists charged with forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to go on a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Case

Russian authorities indicated it is in contact with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson said that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is monitoring the situation, with all government services working to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Kremlin effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

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