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Ukraine's drones have targeted the Russian Bashneft processing plant in the city of Ufa, located some 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine, triggering detonations and a fire, according to a informed individual in the Ukrainian intelligence agency.

This marks the third Ukrainian security service deep strike in the region in the last month. Those operations show that there are no protected areas in the distant backlines of the Russian Federation.

Ukrainian President Urges US President to Broker Peace in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to broker peace in the Ukrainian conflict during a telephone conversation on Saturday.

"When a hostilities can be halted in one region, then certainly other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war," the President remarked, commending Trump's "exceptional" Middle East peace initiative and urging the American leader to pressure the Russian government into negotiations.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Casualties in Ukraine

Strikes by Russia on Ukraine claimed the lives of several civilians on the weekend and caused blackouts to areas of the southern Odesa oblast, as stated by Ukrainian officials.

Two people lost their lives inside a church in the town when it was hit, according to municipal sources.

In the Russian border region of the Belgorod region, a lorry operator was lost his life by a drone assault, as stated by regional authorities.

Electricity Repair Efforts in the Capital

Operations continued on Saturday to restore power in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.

Electricity had been recovered to over 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the largest private energy company said the primary work to repair the grid was finished though some outages remained.

Anti-Aircraft Actions and UAV Interceptions

Ukraine's air defences neutralized 54 of 78 total Russian drones sent against Ukraine overnight, the air force reported on Saturday.

Russia's military authorities stated it shot down 42 Ukrainian drones over its own soil.

Cuban Government Refutes Allegations of Deploying Soldiers to the War

Havana on Saturday refuted US claims it has provided soldiers to engage in the hostilities, while stating the government "do not have exact information about Cuban nationals" involved "independently" or "in the military forces of either party".

The government department in Havana stated 26 nationals had been given prison terms to incarceration ranging from 5 to 14 years for mercenary involvement since the autumn of 2023 when information emerged of individuals being dispatched to the front in the conflict.

Surrender Initiative Program Reveals Details on Cuban National Recruitment

The surrender initiative, a state project that promotes opposing fighters to give up, said in May: "We reliably know the identities and information of one thousand and twenty-eight Cubans who enlisted with the Russian armed forces in 2023-2024."

The Cuban foreign ministry said of Cuban nationals who might be participating: "Undeniably that not a single one have the encouragement, commitment, or approval of the government in Havana for their activities."

Kin of individuals who departed to Russia in the year reported to Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been tricked into joining through promotions on online platforms.