Latest Oil Plant Attack Demonstrates 'Absolutely No Secure Places in the Russian Far Hinterland'

Ukrainian drones have hit Russia's oil facility in Ufa, situated some 1,400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, resulting in detonations and a blaze, as reported by a source in Ukraine's intelligence agency.

This marks the third Ukrainian security service deep strike in the region in the past month. Such strikes illustrate that there are no secure zones in the far hinterland of the Russian Federation.

Zelenskyy Urges US President to Mediate Ceasefire in Ukraine

The Ukrainian leader appealed to the US President to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict in a phone call on Saturday.

"When a hostilities can be halted in a single area, then surely additional conflicts can be stopped as well, including the Russian aggression," Zelenskyy said, praising Trump's "remarkable" Gaza ceasefire plan and calling for the American leader to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.

Moscow's Assaults Kill Casualties in the Country

Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of several civilians on Saturday and caused blackouts to parts of the south Odesa area, per local sources.

Two civilians died in a church in the town when it was targeted, per regional officials.

In Russia's border region of Belgorod, a truck driver was fatally wounded by a drone assault, per local officials.

Energy Recovery Operations in Kyiv

Operations continued on Saturday to recover electricity in Kyiv, after Russian attacks.

Power had been recovered to more than 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the largest private energy company announced the main work to repair the grid was complete though partial blackouts persisted.

Air Defence Efforts and UAV Jamming

The Ukrainian defense forces downed or disrupted fifty-four of 78 enemy drones deployed towards the country in the dark hours, the aerial defense command said on Saturday.

The Russian military authorities stated it shot down 42 UAVs from Ukraine over its own soil.

Cuba Refutes Accusations of Sending Troops to the War

Cuba on the weekend refuted American claims it has provided soldiers to fight in the Ukraine war, while affirming the government "lack precise details about Cuban nationals" participating "on their own" or "as part of the armed units of both sides".

The foreign ministry in the capital announced 26 Cubans had been given prison terms to jail sentences ranging from five to 14 years for mercenary involvement since the autumn of 2023 when information emerged of Cuban nationals being deployed to the battlefield in the conflict.

I Want to Live Project Reports Information on Cuban Involvement

The program, a Ukrainian government project that urges opposing fighters to lay down arms, said in spring: "Our information indicates the identities and information of one thousand and twenty-eight Cubans who entered into agreements with the Moscow's troops in recently."

The Cuban authorities said of Cubans who might be participating: "There is no doubt that none of them have the backing, allegiance, or consent of the Cuban state for their actions."

Relatives of individuals who left for the Russian Federation in 2023 told international media at the time that their relatives had been deceptively recruited through promotions on social media.