Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Fuel Plant With British Storm Shadow Missiles.

In a significant military action, Ukrainian forces reportedly used British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil processing facility. The attack was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities.

Details of the Strike and Military Significance

The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This represents another instance where Ukrainian forces has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles to hit objectives on Russian soil.

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

Diplomatic Developments on the Conflict

In a related development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held “very good” discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on potential pathways to bring the conflict to a close.

“It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a social media platform. “There are some new ideas on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the schedule.”

Judicial Proceedings Inside the Country

In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and opponent of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the Left Front movement, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The charges are said to be based on an article Udaltsov published backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the charges as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to go on a hunger strike in defiance.

International Detainee Situation

The Kremlin has stated it is in contact with French authorities concerning the fate of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher currently serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of spying.

A spokesperson 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 monitoring the situation, with all government services mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible.

Symbolic Reconstruction in Occupied City

A theatre in Mariupol, which was destroyed in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Authorities in control have heralded the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

However, former actors from the theatre have denounced the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a broader Moscow effort to present its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the detention or expulsion of critics and confiscation of assets from local residents.

It is expected to open by the end of the month with a show of a Russian fairytale, having been rebuilt largely anew over the past two years.