🔗 Share this article Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Fuel Plant With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles. In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command. Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian soil. Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the War Front Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close. “We had a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward real peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Inside the Country Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison. The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance. Foreign Prisoner Situation The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French officials regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage. An official said that Russia has made an offer 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 mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity. Controversial Reopening in Occupied City The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery. However, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents. It is due to reopen by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction largely anew over the past two years.
In a significant military action, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target and hit a key Russian oil refinery. The attack occurred on Thursday, as stated by the country's military command. Details of the Strike and Strategic Impact The plant in question, the Novoshakhtinsk oil plant, was reportedly hit, with multiple blasts observed at the site. This marks another instance where Ukraine has utilized these advanced British-supplied missiles to hit objectives inside Russian soil. Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility acts as one of the main providers of fuel products in Russia's south and is actively engaged in supplying the military of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the War Front Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held productive talks with representatives of ex-President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation centered on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close. “We had a really good conversation: many details, constructive proposals, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy stated on a messaging platform. “There are some fresh concepts on how to move toward real peace closer, and it involves approaches, meetings, and, of course, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Inside the Country Meanwhile, in a domestic matter, a Russian court has found guilty a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, leader of the opposition movement, was sentenced to six years in prison. The charges reportedly stem from an online post Udaltsov published backing another group of activists accused of forming a terrorist group. Udaltsov has rejected the allegations as fabricated and, after the sentencing, reportedly announced to begin a hunger strike in defiance. Foreign Prisoner Situation The Kremlin indicated it is in contact with French officials regarding the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher serving a prison term in Russia and reportedly facing additional accusations of espionage. An official said that Russia has made an offer 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 mobilised to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation at the earliest opportunity. Controversial Reopening in Occupied City The Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was leveled in a devastating bombardment while hundreds of civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Authorities in control have promoted the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery. However, previous staff from the theatre have called the reopening as “a macabre spectacle.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Moscow effort to showcase its rule in seized territories, a process that includes the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and property seizures from local residents. It is due to reopen by the month's end with a performance of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction largely anew over the past two years.