Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With 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 key Russian oil refinery. This strike occurred on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian 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 site. This marks not the first instance where Ukrainian forces has deployed these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian territory.
Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the main suppliers of fuel products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict
In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to end the war.
“We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”
Legal Crackdown Inside the Country
Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has convicted a pro-war activist and opponent 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 online post Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has denied the allegations as politically motivated and, following the verdict, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in protest.
Foreign Prisoner Case
Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French officials regarding the fate 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 made an offer to France in the case of Vinatier, and now “it is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed he is closely following the situation, with all government services working to provide consular support and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.
Controversial Reopening in Mariupol
A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while many civilians were sheltering in its cellar, is scheduled to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.
Conversely, former actors from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process accompanied by the detention or expulsion of critics and property seizures from Ukrainian citizens.
The theatre is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a Russian fairytale, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.
