🔗 Share this article

Ukrainian UAVs have hit Russia's Bashneft processing plant in the city of Ufa, situated some 1,400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, causing blasts and a blaze, according to a informed individual in Ukraine's intelligence agency.

This marks the third Ukrainian security service deep strike in Bashkortostan in the recent weeks. Such operations demonstrate that there are no secure zones in the distant backlines of the Russia.

Ukrainian President Calls On Trump to Broker Ceasefire in Ukraine

The Ukrainian leader appealed to Donald Trump to facilitate a truce in Ukraine in a phone call on the weekend.

"Provided that a hostilities can be ended in a particular zone, then surely other wars can be ended as well, covering the conflict with Russia," the President said, praising the US President's "outstanding" Middle East ceasefire plan and calling for the US president to pressure the Russian government into talks.

Russian Strikes Claim Lives in the Country

Strikes by Russia on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of five people on Saturday and cut power to sections of the south Odesa oblast, according to Ukrainian officials.

A pair of individuals died within a religious building in the town when it was struck, according to regional officials.

In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a vehicle operator was killed by a Ukrainian strike, according to regional authorities.

Power Restoration Efforts in Kyiv

Work carried on on Saturday to restore power in the Ukrainian capital, after strikes by Moscow.

Electricity had been restored to over 800,000 residents by Saturday and the biggest power firm said the main work to repair the grid was concluded though certain disruptions remained.

Air Defence Actions and UAV Downings

The Ukrainian defense forces intercepted or jammed 54 out of seventy-eight Russian drones launched targeting the country in the dark hours, the air force announced on the weekend.

Russia's defense officials said it intercepted 42 enemy UAVs from Ukraine over Russian territory.

Cuban Government Denies Allegations of Deploying Troops to the War

Havana on Saturday denied American allegations it has sent soldiers to engage in the conflict in Ukraine, while declaring officials in Havana "do not have exact data about citizens of Cuba" engaged "voluntarily" or "as part of the armed units of either party".

The ministry in the capital stated 26 nationals had been convicted to jail sentences varying between 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since the autumn of 2023 when reports circulated of individuals being dispatched to the front in Ukraine.

I Want to Live Project Discloses Data on Cuban Recruitment

The surrender initiative, a official Kyiv project that promotes opposing fighters to surrender, reported in spring: "We reliably know the names and personal details of over a thousand individuals who enlisted with the Moscow's troops in 2023-2024."

The government in Havana commented of Cuban nationals who might be participating: "It is irrefutable that not a single one has the backing, commitment, or approval of the government in Havana for their involvement."

Relatives of Cubans who traveled to the Russian Federation in the year reported to Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been misled into enlisting through ads on social media.