Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles.

As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a major Russian oil processing facility. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact

The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with "numerous explosions" observed at the site. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian soil.

Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary suppliers of fuel products in Russia's south and is directly involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks centered on potential pathways to end the war.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it involves formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Judicial Proceedings Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal 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 sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has denied the charges as fabricated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations of espionage.

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

Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol

A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

However, previous staff from the theatre have denounced the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” This project is part of a broader Moscow effort to showcase its rule in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.

It is due to reopen by the end of the month with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.