Ukrainian Forces Hit Moscow's Fuel Plant With British Storm Shadow Missiles.
As part of a notable military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.
Details of the Strike and Military Significance
The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts recorded at the location. This marks not the first instance where Ukraine has deployed these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit targets on Russian soil.
Military spokespersons noted that the Novoshakhtinsk plant serves as one of the primary providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is actively engaged in supplying the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Political Discussions on the War Front
Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These talks focused on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.
“We had a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “There are some new ideas on how to move toward real peace closer, and it concerns approaches, potential summits, and, certainly, the schedule.”
Legal Crackdown Within Russia
Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a court in Russia has found guilty a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of supporting terrorist activities. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was given to six years in a penal colony.
This case reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published backing another group of activists charged with forming a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in protest.
Foreign Prisoner Case
The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French authorities regarding the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of spying.
A spokesperson stated that Russia has made an offer to France regarding Vinatier, and now “the ball is in France’s court.” President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is closely following the situation, with all state resources mobilised to offer assistance and push for his liberation at the earliest opportunity.
Symbolic Reconstruction in Mariupol
The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to reopen. Russian occupation authorities have promoted the rebuilding as a sign of renewal.
However, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Kremlin effort to showcase its administration in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from local residents.
It is expected to open by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction largely anew over the last 24 months.
