Latest Refinery Assault Demonstrates 'Absolutely No Secure Places in the Russian Far Hinterland'
Ukrainian UAVs have targeted the Russian Bashneft refinery in the city of Ufa, situated approximately 1,400 kilometres from Ukraine, causing explosions and a blaze, per a source in Ukraine's intelligence agency.
This represents the latest SBU far-reaching assault in the region in the last month. These strikes demonstrate that there are no safe places in the distant backlines of the Russian Federation.
Zelenskyy Appeals to US President to Facilitate Peace in Ukraine
The Ukrainian leader appealed to President Trump to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict in a call on the weekend.
"Provided that a conflict can be ended in a particular zone, then certainly further hostilities can be ended as well, covering the Russian war," the President remarked, commending the US President's "outstanding" Gaza peace initiative and requesting the American leader to influence the Kremlin into negotiations.
Moscow's Attacks Take Casualties in Ukraine
Moscow's assaults on Ukrainian territory resulted in the deaths of five people on the weekend and caused blackouts to areas of Ukraine's southern Odesa oblast, per authorities in Ukraine.
Two people died within a religious building in Kostyantynivka when it was targeted, as reported by municipal sources.
In Russia's frontier area of Belgorod, a truck driver was killed by a Ukrainian strike, per local officials.
Energy Recovery Efforts in the Capital
Efforts proceeded on Saturday to restore power in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.
Power had been recovered to over 800,000 citizens by the weekend and the major utility provider stated the main work to restore power was concluded though partial blackouts persisted.
Anti-Aircraft Efforts and Drone Downings
The Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems downed or disrupted 54 of 78 total UAVs from Russia deployed against the country overnight, the aerial defense command said on Saturday.
The Russian defense officials stated it shot down forty-two UAVs from Ukraine over the country's airspace.
Cuban Government Refutes Allegations of Sending Troops to Ukraine
Havana on Saturday denied US assertions it has sent military personnel to engage in the hostilities, while declaring officials in Havana "lack exact details about citizens of Cuba" involved "voluntarily" or "as part of the armed units of both sides".
The foreign ministry in the capital announced 26 Cuban citizens had been given prison terms to prison terms varying between five to 14 years for mercenary activity since the autumn of 2023 when news circulated of individuals being sent to the battlefield in Ukraine.
Surrender Initiative Initiative Discloses Data on Cuban National Recruitment
The program, a Ukrainian government initiative that promotes enemy combatants to surrender, stated in spring: "Our information indicates the names and personal details of over a thousand individuals who enlisted with the Russian armed forces in 2023-2024."
The Cuban foreign ministry stated of Cubans who might be engaged: "There is no doubt that not a single one have the encouragement, dedication, or authorization of the government in Havana for their actions."
Relatives of Cubans who left for the Russian Federation in 2023 informed Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been deceptively recruited through advertisements on social media.