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Ukrainian drones have struck the Russian Bashneft refinery in the city of Ufa, situated approximately 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border, causing blasts and a fire, according to a source in the Ukrainian intelligence agency.

This marks the 3rd Ukrainian security service far-reaching assault in Bashkortostan in the past month. These operations demonstrate that there are no secure zones in the far hinterland of the Russian state.

Ukrainian President Appeals to Trump to Mediate Ceasefire in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine during a call on the weekend.

"If a hostilities can be halted in a particular zone, then surely further hostilities can be halted as well, covering the conflict with Russia," the President said, praising the US President's "exceptional" Middle East truce proposal and requesting the US president to compel the Moscow into negotiations.

Russian Strikes Kill Casualties in Ukraine

Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in the deaths of several civilians on Saturday and disrupted electricity to sections of the south Odesa region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Two people were killed within a church in Kostyantynivka when it was struck, as reported by municipal sources.

In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a lorry operator was lost his life by a Ukrainian strike, according to regional authorities.

Energy Restoration Efforts in Kyiv

Work carried on on the weekend to restore power in Kyiv, after assaults.

Electricity had been restored to in excess of 800,000 residents by the weekend and the biggest private energy company stated the key efforts to recover electricity was finished though partial blackouts continued.

Anti-Aircraft Efforts and UAV Interceptions

The Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems neutralized fifty-four of seventy-eight UAVs from Russia launched towards Ukraine in the dark hours, the aerial defense command reported on Saturday.

Russia's defense officials stated it eliminated 42 Ukrainian drones over its own soil.

Cuba Refutes Allegations of Deploying Forces to Ukraine

Cuba on the weekend denied American allegations it has deployed troops to participate in the hostilities, while declaring the government "do not have exact information about Cuban nationals" involved "on their own" or "within the troops of the conflicting parties".

The foreign ministry in Havana said 26 Cuban citizens had been convicted to jail sentences from 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since September 2023 when reports emerged of Cubans being dispatched to the battlefield in Ukraine.

I Want to Live Project Reports Data on Cuban Involvement

I Want to Live, a state project that encourages opposing fighters to lay down arms, stated in May: "Our information indicates the identities and information of 1,028 Cubans who enlisted with the Moscow's troops in 2023-2024."

The Cuban foreign ministry said of Cubans who might be participating: "It is irrefutable that none of them have the encouragement, dedication, or approval of the Cuban state for their involvement."

Relatives of Cuban nationals who departed to Russia in 2023 informed Agence France-Presse at the time that their relatives had been misled into enlisting through ads on digital networks.