🔗 Share this article Kyiv Strikes Moscow's Oil Refinery With British Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles. In a significant military action, 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. Details of the Strike and Military Significance The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory. Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the War Front Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close. “We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Inside the Country In a parallel domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony. This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance. Foreign Prisoner Situation Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations 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 state resources mobilised to offer assistance and push for his liberation as soon as possible. Controversial Reopening in Occupied City A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal. Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents. It is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.
In a significant military action, 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. Details of the Strike and Military Significance The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian territory. Ukrainian officials emphasized that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the primary providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the War Front Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close. “We had a very productive conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Inside the Country In a parallel domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in a penal colony. This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, stated his intention to begin a hunger strike in defiance. Foreign Prisoner Situation Russian authorities has stated it is in contact with French officials concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and allegedly facing additional accusations 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 state resources mobilised to offer assistance and push for his liberation as soon as possible. Controversial Reopening in Occupied City A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to reopen. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a sign of renewal. Conversely, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents. It is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.