🔗 Share this article Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Refinery With UK-supplied Storm Shadow Missiles. As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities. Details of the Strike and Military Significance The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents another instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian soil. Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the Conflict Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close. “It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Within Russia In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was given to six years in prison. The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published in support of 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 go on a hunger strike in protest. International Detainee Case Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence 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 “the ball is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible. Controversial Reopening in Mariupol A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery. However, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens. It is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.
As part of a notable escalation, Kyiv's forces reportedly used long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike a key Russian oil processing facility. This strike was carried out Thursday, according to the country's military authorities. Details of the Strike and Military Significance The targeted facility, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, was said to be hit, with multiple blasts observed at the location. This represents another instance where Ukraine has utilized these powerful British-supplied missiles against objectives inside Russian soil. Ukrainian officials noted that the Novoshakhtinsk facility serves as one of the primary providers of fuel products in southern Russia and is directly involved in providing for the military of the Russian Federation. Political Discussions on the Conflict Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he held “very good” talks with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The conversation focused on possible ways to bring the conflict to a close. “It was a very productive conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on a messaging platform. “We explored some fresh concepts on how to bring a genuine peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline.” Legal Crackdown Within Russia In a parallel internal matter, a court in Russia has convicted a activist and critic of Vladimir Putin on charges of justifying terrorism. Sergei Udaltsov, head of the opposition movement, was given to six years in prison. The charges reportedly stem from an article Udaltsov published in support of 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 go on a hunger strike in protest. International Detainee Case Russian authorities has stated it is engaged with French authorities concerning the case of Laurent Vinatier, a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence 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 “the ball is in France’s court.” French President Emmanuel Macron’s office stated he is monitoring the situation, with all state resources working to provide consular support and advocate for his liberation as soon as possible. Controversial Reopening in Mariupol A theatre in Mariupol, which was leveled in a 2022 Russian airstrike while many civilians sought refuge in its basement, is set to open its doors again. Russian occupation authorities have heralded the reconstruction as a symbol of recovery. However, previous staff from the theatre have called the planned opening as “dancing on bones.” The reconstruction is part of a wider Kremlin effort to present its administration in occupied Ukraine, a process accompanied by the arrest or exile of dissenting voices and confiscation of assets from Ukrainian citizens. It is expected to open by the month's end with a show of a classic Russian story, following its reconstruction almost from scratch over the past two years.