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Ukrainian drones have hit Russia's oil facility in the city of Ufa, situated approximately 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border, causing explosions and a blaze, according to a insider in the Ukrainian SBU.

This constitutes the 3rd Ukrainian security service deep strike in Bashkortostan in the last month. Such strikes illustrate that there are no safe places in the far hinterland of the Russian state.

Zelenskyy Urges US President to Mediate Peace in the Conflict

The Ukrainian leader urged Donald Trump to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine in a call on the weekend.

"Provided that a war can be stopped in a single area, then surely further hostilities can be halted as well, covering the Russian aggression," he said, commending Trump's "exceptional" Gaza peace initiative and urging the US president to pressure the Kremlin into talks.

Russian Attacks Claim Victims in the Country

Moscow's assaults on Ukrainian territory killed at least five people on Saturday and disrupted electricity to sections of Ukraine's southern Odesa oblast, according to Ukrainian officials.

A pair of individuals died inside a place of worship in the town when it was hit, as reported by municipal sources.

In Russia's frontier area of the Belgorod region, a vehicle operator was killed by a attack from Ukraine, according to local officials.

Energy Recovery Efforts in the Capital

Operations carried on on the weekend to restore power in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.

Electricity had been restored to in excess of 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the biggest power firm said the main efforts to repair the grid was concluded though certain disruptions continued.

Air Defence Actions and UAV Jamming

Ukraine's defense forces downed or disrupted 54 out of 78 total enemy drones launched towards the country in the dark hours, the air force reported on the weekend.

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

Cuba Denies Claims of Deploying Troops to Ukraine

Cuba on the weekend refuted American claims it has deployed troops to fight in the conflict in Ukraine, while affirming officials in Havana "are without exact details about individuals" engaged "independently" or "in the military forces of the conflicting parties".

The government department in Havana announced 26 Cubans had been given prison terms to jail sentences from five to 14 years for mercenary involvement since September 2023 when news circulated of Cuban nationals being sent to the frontlines in the conflict.

Surrender Initiative Program Discloses Information on Cuban Involvement

The program, a state program that urges opposing fighters to lay down arms, reported in spring: "We have confirmed the names and personal details of over a thousand individuals who entered into agreements with the Moscow's troops in the past two years."

The Cuban authorities said of Cuban nationals who might be engaged: "There is no doubt that none of them have the encouragement, allegiance, or approval of the government in Havana for their involvement."

Kin of Cubans who traveled to the Russian Federation in the year told news outlets at the time that their loved ones had been misled into enlisting through ads on social media.