Recent Refinery Strike Shows 'Absolutely No Safe Places in Russia's Deep Rear'

Ukraine's drones have struck the Russian Bashneft facility in the city of Ufa, located around 1,400 km from Ukraine, causing explosions and a inferno, as reported by a source in the Ukrainian Security Service.

This constitutes the third SBU far-reaching assault in the region in the past month. Such operations illustrate that there are no protected areas in the far hinterland of the Russia.

Ukrainian President Appeals to US President to Facilitate Peace in Ukraine

The Ukrainian leader urged President Trump to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict during a call on Saturday.

"If a conflict can be ended in a particular zone, then undoubtedly further hostilities can be ended as well, including the Russian war," the President remarked, hailing Trump's "outstanding" Gaza ceasefire plan and urging the President to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.

Russian Assaults Kill Victims in Ukraine

Strikes by Russia on Ukraine resulted in the deaths of several civilians on the weekend and caused blackouts to areas of Ukraine's south Odesa area, as stated by Ukrainian officials.

Two people died in a religious building in Kostyantynivka when it was hit, as reported by regional officials.

In Russia's border region of the Belgorod region, a lorry operator was killed by a Ukrainian strike, as stated by local officials.

Energy Recovery Work in the Capital

Work continued on the weekend to recover electricity in the Ukrainian capital, after Russian attacks.

Electricity had been returned to more than 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the major utility provider stated the main efforts to recover electricity was finished though some outages continued.

Anti-Aircraft Efforts and Drone Downings

The Ukrainian air defences downed or disrupted 54 out of 78 total Russian drones sent against Ukraine in the dark hours, the military reported on the weekend.

The Russian defense officials said it eliminated forty-two Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.

Cuba Refutes Claims of Providing Soldiers to Ukraine

Cuba on Saturday denied American allegations it has sent soldiers to participate in the hostilities, while declaring the government "do not have precise data about citizens of Cuba" engaged "voluntarily" or "as part of the armed units of the conflicting parties".

The foreign ministry in Havana said 26 Cuban citizens had been convicted to prison terms ranging from five up to fourteen years for mercenary activity since September 2023 when reports spread of Cuban nationals being sent to the frontlines in the conflict.

I Want to Live Initiative Discloses Details on Cuban Enlistment

The surrender initiative, a Ukrainian government project that urges opposing fighters to give up, reported in spring: "We have confirmed the names and personal details of over a thousand Cuban nationals who enlisted with the Russian military in recently."

The Cuban authorities stated of Cubans who might be involved: "Undeniably that none of them has the encouragement, commitment, or consent of the Cuban authorities for their activities."

Family members of individuals who left for the Russian Federation in the year reported to international media at the time that their family members had been tricked into joining through ads on online platforms.