🔗 Share this article

Ukraine's drones have struck the Russian Bashneft facility in Ufa, positioned some 1,400 kilometres from Ukraine, causing explosions and a blaze, per a source in the Ukrainian Security Service.

This marks the third intelligence long-range attack in the region in the last month. These strikes demonstrate that there are no safe places in the deep rear of the Russian state.

Zelenskyy Appeals to Trump to Facilitate Peace in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy appealed to the US President to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call on the weekend.

"If a war can be ended in a particular zone, then surely further hostilities can be ended as well, covering the Russian war," the President stated, commending Trump's "outstanding" Gaza truce proposal and urging the US president to influence the Russian government into negotiations.

Moscow's Assaults Kill Lives in the Country

Strikes by Russia on Ukrainian territory killed at least 5 individuals on Saturday and disrupted electricity to areas of Ukraine's south Odesa area, according to Ukrainian officials.

Two civilians lost their lives inside a place of worship in the town when it was targeted, as reported by regional officials.

In Russia's frontier area of Belgorod, a truck driver was killed by a drone assault, per local officials.

Power Restoration Operations in Kyiv

Efforts continued on the weekend to restore power in the Ukrainian capital, after strikes by Moscow.

Electricity had been returned to more than 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the major power firm announced the primary work to repair the grid was finished though certain disruptions continued.

Air Defence Operations and Drone Interceptions

Ukraine's air defences neutralized 54 out of 78 total UAVs from Russia launched targeting Ukraine overnight, the aerial defense command said on the weekend.

Russia's defence ministry stated it intercepted 42 enemy UAVs from Ukraine over the country's airspace.

Cuban Government Refutes Allegations of Providing Troops to Ukraine

Havana on the weekend refuted American allegations it has sent troops to fight in the conflict in Ukraine, while affirming Cuban authorities "lack precise information about individuals" participating "independently" or "as part of the armed units of either party".

The government department in Havana announced 26 nationals had been sentenced to jail sentences ranging from 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since September 2023 when reports circulated of Cuban nationals being sent to the front in Ukraine.

I Want to Live Project Discloses Data on Cuban Recruitment

The program, a Ukrainian government program that promotes enemy combatants to give up, said in May: "We have confirmed the names and personal details of over a thousand Cubans who enlisted with the Russian armed forces in the past two years."

The Cuban foreign ministry said of Cuban nationals who might be involved: "There is no doubt that none of them possesses the encouragement, commitment, or consent of the Cuban authorities for their involvement."

Family members of individuals who departed to Russia in 2023 told Agence France-Presse at the time that their relatives had been misled into enlisting through advertisements on social media.