Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Fuel Plant Using UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a major Russian oil processing facility. This strike occurred on Thursday, as stated by the Ukrainian military command.

Attack Particulars and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents another instance where Ukraine has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main providers of petrol products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation.

Political Discussions on the Conflict

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, namely 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 fresh concepts on how to bring real peace closer, and it involves approaches, potential summits, and, certainly, the timeline.”

Legal Crackdown Within Russia

Meanwhile, in a internal matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in prison.

The charges are said to be based on an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, following the verdict, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.

Foreign Prisoner Situation

Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

An official stated that Russia has presented a proposal to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all state resources working to provide consular support and push for his release 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 cellar, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have heralded the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.

Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” This project is part of a wider Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of dissenting voices and property seizures 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 largely anew over the past two years.