Ukraine has used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack a Russian oil refinery, the Ukrainian military confirmed on Thursday. The Novoshakhtinsk refinery in southern Russia was hit, with the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff reporting 'numerous explosions' at the site. The facility is a key supplier of petrol products in the region and directly supports the Russian armed forces, according to Kyiv.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held 'very good' talks with envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, regarding ending the war. In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy described the discussions as productive, noting 'new ideas on how to bring real peace closer' concerning formats, meetings, and timelines. The talks followed Ukraine's securing of limited concessions in a US-led draft peace plan now under review by Moscow.
A Russian court has sentenced pro-war activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison for justifying terrorism. Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, was arrested last year over an online article supporting activists convicted of forming a terrorist organisation. He denounced the verdict as 'shameful' and declared a hunger strike, according to Russian independent news site Mediazona.
The Kremlin confirmed contact with French authorities regarding political scholar Laurent Vinatier, who is serving a three-year sentence in Russia and faces new espionage charges. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia has made an 'offer to the French' but declined to elaborate. French President Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation, with consular support being provided.
The Mariupol Drama Theatre, destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike that killed hundreds of civilians, is set to reopen under Russian occupation authorities. The theatre will host a performance of the Russian fairytale 'The Scarlet Flower' by the end of the month. Former actors have condemned the reopening as 'dancing on bones,' while Moscow touts the reconstruction as a symbol of renewal in occupied Ukraine.
