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Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles have struck Russia's oil refinery in Ufa, located approximately 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border, causing explosions and a blaze, according to a source in the Ukrainian Security Service.

This marks the third SBU long-range attack in the region in the recent weeks. These attacks illustrate that there are no protected areas in the far hinterland of the Russia.

Zelenskyy Calls On Trump to Mediate Truce in the Conflict

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the US President to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine in a call on Saturday.

"Provided that a hostilities can be halted in a particular zone, then certainly further hostilities can be halted as well, covering the Russian aggression," Zelenskyy remarked, commending the US President's "outstanding" Middle East peace initiative and calling for the US president to influence the Kremlin into talks.

Russian Attacks Claim Victims in Ukraine

Moscow's assaults on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of several civilians on the weekend and caused blackouts to parts of the south Odesa area, as stated by local sources.

A pair of individuals died within a place of worship in the town when it was struck, according to municipal sources.

In the Russian adjacent territory of Belgorod, a truck driver was lost his life by a Ukrainian strike, per municipal sources.

Electricity Repair Work in Kyiv

Work carried on on the weekend to repair energy infrastructure in Kyiv, after Russian attacks.

Electricity had been restored to more than 800,000 inhabitants by the weekend and the biggest private energy company announced the primary efforts to recover electricity was complete though partial blackouts remained.

Anti-Aircraft Operations and Drone Jamming

The Ukrainian air defences neutralized fifty-four of 78 total UAVs from Russia deployed against Ukraine during the night, the air force said on Saturday.

The Russian defense officials stated it intercepted 42 drones over the country's airspace.

Cuba Denies Accusations of Providing Soldiers to Ukraine

Cuba on the weekend denied American allegations it has sent soldiers to participate in the conflict in Ukraine, while declaring the government "do not have accurate data about Cuban nationals" engaged "independently" or "as part of the armed units of both sides".

The ministry in Havana said 26 Cuban citizens had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since the autumn of 2023 when news emerged of Cubans being sent to the frontlines in the conflict.

Surrender Initiative Project Reveals Details on Cuban Recruitment

The surrender initiative, a Ukrainian government initiative that urges enemy combatants to give up, stated in May: "We reliably know the identities and information of 1,028 Cuban nationals who signed contracts with the Russian military in the past two years."

The government in Havana stated of those who might be involved: "Undeniably that not a single one possesses the backing, commitment, or approval of the Cuban state for their involvement."

Family members of Cubans who traveled to Russia in the year told Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been misled into enlisting through promotions on social media.