Recent Refinery Assault Shows 'Absolutely No Safe Areas in Russia's Deep Rear'

Ukrainian drones have struck Russia's oil refinery in the city of Ufa, situated around 1,400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, resulting in blasts and a blaze, per a source in Ukraine's SBU.

This marks the third Ukrainian security service deep strike in Bashkortostan in the last month. Such attacks illustrate that there are no secure zones in the far hinterland of the Russian Federation.

Zelenskyy Calls On US President to Mediate Peace in the Conflict

Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the US President to broker peace in Ukraine in a call on Saturday.

"If a hostilities can be ended in a single area, then surely additional conflicts can be ended as well, covering the Russian war," Zelenskyy stated, commending Trump's "remarkable" Gaza peace initiative and urging the US president to pressure the Moscow into negotiations.

Moscow's Assaults Take Victims in Ukraine

Moscow's assaults on Ukraine claimed the lives of 5 individuals on Saturday and caused blackouts to parts of the southern Odesa oblast, as stated by Ukrainian officials.

Two people were killed inside a church in the town when it was struck, according to local authorities.

In the Russian border region of the Belgorod region, a lorry operator was lost his life by a attack from Ukraine, per regional authorities.

Energy Repair Efforts in Kyiv

Work proceeded on the weekend to repair energy infrastructure in Kyiv, after strikes by Moscow.

Power had been returned to over 800,000 inhabitants by Saturday and the largest utility provider said the primary operations to repair the grid was finished though some outages persisted.

Air Defence Operations and UAV Downings

The Ukrainian air defences intercepted or jammed fifty-four of 78 total enemy drones deployed towards the country in the dark hours, the air force announced on Saturday.

Russia's defence ministry claimed it intercepted forty-two Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.

Cuban Government Denies Claims of Deploying Forces to Ukraine

Cuba on Saturday rejected US claims it has deployed soldiers to engage in the hostilities, while affirming Cuban authorities "lack accurate data about individuals" engaged "on their own" or "within the troops of the conflicting parties".

The foreign ministry in Havana announced twenty-six nationals had been convicted to incarceration ranging from five to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since last September when reports spread of Cuban nationals being dispatched to the front in Ukraine.

I Want to Live Project Discloses Data on Cuban National Enlistment

The program, a official Kyiv initiative that encourages enemy combatants to lay down arms, reported in spring: "Our information indicates the identities and information of over a thousand individuals who signed contracts with the Russian armed forces in the past two years."

The Cuban foreign ministry said of Cuban nationals who might be participating: "There is no doubt that not a single one has the backing, commitment, or authorization of the Cuban authorities for their actions."

Relatives of Cuban nationals who traveled to the Russian Federation in 2023 told news outlets at the time that their relatives had been deceptively recruited through advertisements on online platforms.

Natalie Jackson DDS
Natalie Jackson DDS

Lena is a digital productivity coach and writer with over a decade of experience helping professionals streamline their workflows.