Latest Refinery Attack Shows 'Absolutely No Safe Locations in the Russian Distant Backlines'

Ukraine's drones have targeted Russia's Bashneft refinery in Ufa, positioned approximately 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine, causing explosions and a blaze, as reported by a source in the Ukrainian intelligence agency.

This constitutes the third SBU deep strike in the region in the recent weeks. These attacks show that there are no protected areas in the far hinterland of the Russia.

Ukrainian President Calls On US President to Facilitate Truce in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy called on Donald Trump to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict in a phone call on the weekend.

"If a conflict can be halted in a single area, then surely additional conflicts can be halted as well, including the Russian war," the President remarked, praising Trump's "exceptional" Middle East peace initiative and calling for the President to pressure the Kremlin into talks.

Moscow's Strikes Take Victims in the Country

Russian attacks on Ukraine claimed the lives of several civilians on Saturday and cut power to areas of Ukraine's southern Odesa oblast, according to Ukrainian officials.

Two people were killed within a place of worship in Kostyantynivka when it was struck, according to municipal sources.

In the Russian adjacent territory of Belgorod, a vehicle operator was killed by a attack from Ukraine, as stated by municipal sources.

Electricity Repair Operations in Kyiv

Efforts continued on Saturday to repair energy infrastructure in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.

Energy had been recovered to over 800,000 inhabitants by Saturday and the biggest power firm said the main work to restore power was concluded though certain disruptions continued.

Air Defence Actions and UAV Jamming

The Ukrainian air defences downed or disrupted 54 of seventy-eight enemy drones sent targeting the country overnight, the air force reported on Saturday.

Russia's defense officials said it eliminated 42 UAVs from Ukraine over its own soil.

Cuban Government Rejects Allegations of Deploying Soldiers to the War

The Cuban government on Saturday rejected US claims it has deployed troops to fight in the hostilities, while stating the government "do not have precise information about citizens of Cuba" involved "on their own" or "within the troops of either party".

The ministry in Havana said 26 Cubans had been sentenced to prison terms from five up to fourteen years for mercenary activity since last September when news emerged of Cubans being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine.

I Want to Live Program Reveals Details on Cuban National Recruitment

The surrender initiative, a Ukrainian government program that urges opposing fighters to surrender, said in spring: "We have confirmed the personal data of 1,028 individuals who signed contracts with the Moscow's troops in recently."

The Cuban authorities said of Cubans who might be involved: "There is no doubt that none of them has the encouragement, dedication, or approval of the Cuban state for their involvement."

Relatives of Cubans who departed to Russia in 2023 told Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been misled into enlisting through advertisements on social media.