Newest Processing Facility Strike Reveals 'Absolutely No Safe Places in Russia's Deep Rear'

Ukrainian drones have hit Russia's Bashneft processing plant in the city of Ufa, located some 1,400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, resulting in detonations and a fire, as reported by a insider in the Ukrainian intelligence agency.

This marks the 3rd intelligence far-reaching assault in the region in the last month. These attacks illustrate that there are no protected areas in the far hinterland of the Russian state.

Zelenskyy Calls On US President to Broker Ceasefire in Ukraine

President Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine in a telephone conversation on the weekend.

"Provided that a conflict can be stopped in a single area, then undoubtedly additional conflicts can be ended as well, including the Russian aggression," the President said, commending Trump's "outstanding" Middle East ceasefire plan and requesting the President to compel the Kremlin into talks.

Russian Attacks Take Casualties in the Country

Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of five people on Saturday and disrupted electricity to areas of the south Odesa oblast, per Ukrainian officials.

Two people lost their lives in a place of worship in the town when it was hit, as reported by municipal sources.

In the Russian adjacent territory of Belgorod, a vehicle operator was lost his life by a drone assault, as stated by local officials.

Electricity Restoration Work in Kyiv

Efforts continued on the weekend to repair energy infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, after assaults.

Power had been recovered to in excess of 800,000 inhabitants by Saturday and the largest utility provider announced the main efforts to restore power was concluded though certain disruptions persisted.

Anti-Aircraft Operations and Drone Downings

The Ukrainian air defences downed or disrupted fifty-four of 78 Russian drones deployed towards Ukraine in the dark hours, the aerial defense command said on Saturday.

The Russian military authorities claimed it eliminated 42 enemy Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.

Cuban Government Refutes Allegations of Providing Troops to Ukraine

Havana on the weekend refuted US allegations it has deployed soldiers to participate in the conflict in Ukraine, while declaring officials in Havana "do not have exact data about citizens of Cuba" participating "on their own" or "as part of the armed units of both sides".

The foreign ministry in the capital stated 26 Cuban citizens had been sentenced to prison terms from five up to fourteen years for participating as mercenaries since September 2023 when news spread of Cuban nationals being sent to the battlefield in the conflict.

I Want to Live Project Reports Data on Cuban Involvement

I Want to Live, a Ukrainian government initiative that urges enemy combatants to surrender, said in spring: "We reliably know the identities and information of one thousand and twenty-eight Cuban nationals who enlisted with the Moscow's troops in recently."

The government in Havana commented of those who might be involved: "There is no doubt that no individual possesses the encouragement, dedication, or approval of the Cuban state for their activities."

Kin of Cuban nationals who departed to the Russian Federation in the year told international media at the time that their relatives had been tricked into joining through advertisements on social media.

Amber Klein
Amber Klein

Wildlife biologist and conservationist with over a decade of experience studying sloths in Central America.