Newest Refinery Strike Demonstrates 'Zero Safe Places in Russia's Deep Rear'

Ukraine's drones have hit the Russian Bashneft refinery in Ufa, positioned around 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine, causing explosions and a fire, according to a source in Ukraine's SBU.

This marks the third Ukrainian security service far-reaching assault in Bashkortostan in the last month. Such strikes illustrate that there are no safe places in the distant backlines of the Russia.

Ukrainian President Appeals to Trump to Facilitate Peace in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy called on Donald Trump to facilitate a truce in the Ukrainian conflict in a telephone conversation on the weekend.

"Provided that a hostilities can be stopped in a particular zone, then certainly further hostilities can be stopped as well, including the Russian aggression," the President said, commending the US President's "outstanding" Gaza ceasefire plan and requesting the President to compel the Russian government into talks.

Moscow's Assaults Claim Lives in Ukraine

Strikes by Russia on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of several civilians on Saturday and disrupted electricity to sections of Ukraine's southern Odesa oblast, per local sources.

Two civilians died within a place of worship in Kostyantynivka when it was struck, per regional officials.

In Russia's border region of Belgorod, a vehicle operator was killed by a attack from Ukraine, as stated by municipal sources.

Energy Restoration Work in Kyiv

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

Energy had been returned to over 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the biggest utility provider said the key efforts to repair the grid was finished though some outages remained.

Anti-Aircraft Operations and UAV Jamming

Ukraine's anti-aircraft systems intercepted or jammed 54 of 78 Russian drones deployed targeting Ukraine in the dark hours, the aerial defense command said on Saturday.

The Russian military authorities stated it intercepted forty-two UAVs from Ukraine over the country's airspace.

Cuban Government Rejects Claims of Deploying Forces to the War

Havana on Saturday denied US allegations it has sent military personnel to engage in the Ukraine war, while stating officials in Havana "lack exact details about Cuban nationals" participating "voluntarily" or "within the troops of either party".

The ministry in Havana stated 26 nationals had been convicted to prison terms from 5 to 14 years for mercenary involvement since the autumn of 2023 when reports emerged of Cubans being sent to the front in Ukraine.

Surrender Initiative Program Discloses Information on Cuban Involvement

The surrender initiative, a Ukrainian government program that encourages opposing fighters to give up, reported in spring: "Our information indicates the names and personal details of 1,028 Cuban nationals who enlisted with the Moscow's troops in the past two years."

The government in Havana said of Cubans who might be involved: "It is irrefutable that no individual has the backing, dedication, or authorization of the Cuban state for their involvement."

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

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Maria Miller

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