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Ukrainian drones have targeted the Russian Bashneft refinery in Ufa, located approximately 1,400 kilometres from Ukraine, causing detonations and a fire, according to a informed individual in the Ukrainian SBU.

This marks the 3rd Ukrainian security service far-reaching assault in the region in the recent weeks. Those attacks demonstrate that there are no secure zones in the distant backlines of the Russian state.

Ukrainian President Appeals to Trump to Broker Truce in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Donald Trump to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine over a phone call on the weekend.

"When a war can be ended in a particular zone, then surely further hostilities can be stopped as well, encompassing the Russian war," he stated, commending the US President's "outstanding" Middle East peace initiative and requesting the US president to pressure the Kremlin into discussions.

Russian Attacks Take Lives in Ukraine

Moscow's assaults on Ukrainian territory killed at least 5 individuals on the weekend and caused blackouts to areas of the south Odesa oblast, per authorities in Ukraine.

Two people died within a church in the town when it was hit, as reported by municipal sources.

In the Russian frontier area of Belgorod, a lorry operator was lost his life by a drone assault, as stated by local officials.

Energy Restoration Work in the Capital

Work proceeded on the weekend to repair energy infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, after Russian attacks.

Power had been returned to in excess of 800,000 residents by the weekend and the biggest private energy company announced the key efforts to repair the grid was complete though partial blackouts persisted.

Air Defence Efforts and Drone Jamming

The Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems intercepted or jammed 54 of 78 total UAVs from Russia sent towards Ukraine in the dark hours, the aerial defense command said on the weekend.

Russia's defence ministry claimed it shot down 42 drones over its own soil.

Cuban Government Denies Accusations of Providing Troops to the War

Havana on the weekend refuted US allegations it has deployed troops to fight in the conflict in Ukraine, while declaring Cuban authorities "do not have accurate details about Cuban nationals" involved "independently" or "in the military forces of the conflicting parties".

The ministry in Havana said twenty-six nationals had been sentenced to jail sentences from five to 14 years for mercenary activity since last September when information circulated of Cubans being dispatched to the front in the conflict.

Surrender Initiative Program Reveals Information on Cuban National Involvement

The program, a state initiative that encourages adversaries to surrender, reported in spring: "We have confirmed the identities and information of 1,028 individuals who enlisted with the Russian military in 2023-2024."

The Cuban foreign ministry commented of those who might be participating: "It is irrefutable that no individual has the support, allegiance, or authorization of the Cuban state for their activities."

Family members of Cuban nationals who left for Russia in 2023 told international media at the time that their loved ones had been tricked into joining through advertisements on online platforms.