Recent Processing Facility Strike Reveals 'Absolutely No Protected Areas in Russia's Distant Backlines'

Ukraine's drones have struck Russia's oil processing plant in the city of Ufa, situated approximately 1,400 km from Ukraine, triggering explosions and a inferno, per a source in Ukraine's SBU.

This represents the latest intelligence deep strike in Bashkortostan in the recent weeks. Such strikes show that there are no secure zones in the distant backlines of the Russia.

Zelenskyy Urges Trump to Mediate Truce in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine over a telephone conversation on Saturday.

"When a hostilities can be ended in a single area, then surely additional conflicts can be ended as well, including the Russian war," he remarked, praising Trump's "outstanding" Middle East truce proposal and urging the American leader to compel the Russian government into negotiations.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Victims in the Country

Strikes by Russia on Ukraine killed at least five people on the weekend and cut power to parts of Ukraine's southern Odesa area, according to local sources.

Two civilians were killed in a place of worship in the town when it was targeted, per regional officials.

In Russia's border region of the Belgorod region, a lorry operator was fatally wounded by a drone assault, as stated by regional authorities.

Power Restoration Operations in Kyiv

Work proceeded on Saturday to repair energy infrastructure in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.

Energy had been returned to in excess of 800,000 residents by the weekend and the biggest private energy company said the key work to repair the grid was concluded though some outages continued.

Air Defence Operations and UAV Interceptions

The Ukrainian air defences neutralized 54 of 78 enemy drones deployed against Ukraine overnight, the aerial defense command reported on Saturday.

The Russian defence ministry claimed it eliminated 42 drones over Russian territory.

Cuba Rejects Claims of Sending Soldiers to the War

Havana on Saturday denied American assertions it has provided troops to participate in the Ukraine war, while stating the government "are without exact details about individuals" involved "independently" or "within the troops of either party".

The foreign ministry in Havana announced 26 Cubans had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since last September when news emerged of Cubans being deployed to the frontlines in the conflict.

Surrender Initiative Project Discloses Data on Cuban National Recruitment

The program, a Ukrainian government program that promotes opposing fighters to surrender, reported in May: "We reliably know the names and personal details of one thousand and twenty-eight Cubans who signed contracts with the Moscow's troops in the past two years."

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

Family members of Cuban nationals who left for Russia in the year told news outlets at the time that their family members had been misled into enlisting through promotions on online platforms.