Latest Oil Plant Strike Reveals 'Zero Protected Places in Russia's Distant Backlines'

Ukrainian UAVs have targeted the Russian Bashneft facility in Ufa, situated around 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border, causing explosions and a fire, according to a source in Ukraine's intelligence agency.

This marks the 3rd intelligence long-range attack in Bashkortostan in the last month. These strikes demonstrate that there are no safe places in the far hinterland of the Russian state.

Zelenskyy Urges US President to Mediate Truce in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy appealed to President Trump to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict over a phone call on Saturday.

"Provided that a hostilities can be ended in a single area, then certainly other wars can be ended as well, encompassing the Russian war," the President stated, hailing Trump's "exceptional" Gaza peace initiative and calling for the American leader to pressure the Russian government into discussions.

Moscow's Assaults Take Casualties in Ukraine

Strikes by Russia on Ukraine resulted in the deaths of several civilians on Saturday and disrupted electricity to sections of Ukraine's southern Odesa area, according to local sources.

Two civilians died within a religious building in the town when it was targeted, according to local authorities.

In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a lorry operator was killed by a drone assault, per local officials.

Power Restoration Efforts in the Capital

Efforts carried on on the weekend to recover electricity in Kyiv, after Russian attacks.

Power had been returned to over 800,000 residents by the weekend and the largest utility provider stated the primary operations to repair the grid was complete though some outages continued.

Anti-Aircraft Operations and Drone Interceptions

Ukraine's anti-aircraft systems neutralized 54 of 78 total UAVs from Russia deployed against the country during the night, the aerial defense command said on Saturday.

Russia's defence ministry claimed it eliminated 42 drones over the country's airspace.

Cuban Government Refutes Accusations of Providing Soldiers to the War

Cuba on the weekend denied US assertions it has sent military personnel to engage in the Ukraine war, while stating the government "do not have exact details about citizens of Cuba" involved "voluntarily" or "in the military forces of the conflicting parties".

The government department in Havana announced twenty-six nationals had been sentenced to incarceration from 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since September 2023 when information spread of Cuban nationals being dispatched to the front in Ukraine.

Surrender Initiative Project Reports Information on Cuban Enlistment

I Want to Live, a official Kyiv project that urges adversaries to surrender, stated in May: "We reliably know the names and personal details of one thousand and twenty-eight Cuban nationals who enlisted with the Russian military in recently."

The Cuban authorities commented of those who might be participating: "It is irrefutable that not a single one have the backing, dedication, or consent of the Cuban state for their involvement."

Relatives of Cuban nationals who left for Russia in 2023 told Agence France-Presse at the time that their relatives had been tricked into joining through promotions on digital networks.

Katelyn Barnes
Katelyn Barnes

Elena is a literary historian and critic with a passion for uncovering hidden narratives in classic works.