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Ukrainian drones have hit Russia's Bashneft facility in Ufa, situated around 1,400 kilometres from Ukraine, causing detonations and a fire, according to a informed individual in Ukraine's SBU.

This represents the latest Ukrainian security service deep strike in the region in the last month. Those strikes show that there are no protected areas in the deep rear of the Russian state.

Zelenskyy Appeals to Trump to Mediate Ceasefire in the Conflict

President Zelenskyy appealed to the US President to mediate a ceasefire in the Ukrainian conflict during a phone call on Saturday.

"If a hostilities can be ended in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian aggression," he stated, hailing the US President's "remarkable" Gaza peace initiative and calling for the US president to pressure the Russian government into discussions.

Moscow's Strikes Take Lives in the Country

Moscow's assaults on Ukraine claimed the lives of 5 individuals on Saturday and caused blackouts to sections of Ukraine's southern Odesa oblast, per authorities in Ukraine.

A pair of individuals lost their lives inside a religious building in the town when it was struck, according to municipal sources.

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

Energy Restoration Work in the Capital

Efforts carried on on Saturday to restore power in the Ukrainian capital, after Russian attacks.

Energy had been restored to over 800,000 citizens by the weekend and the biggest private energy company said the main work to restore power was complete though certain disruptions remained.

Air Defence Efforts and UAV Interceptions

The Ukrainian air defences downed or disrupted 54 of 78 total Russian drones launched targeting Ukraine in the dark hours, the air force said on Saturday.

The Russian defense officials stated it intercepted 42 enemy Ukrainian drones over its own soil.

Cuba Rejects Claims of Sending Troops to the War

The Cuban government on Saturday rejected US allegations it has deployed soldiers to participate in the hostilities, while affirming officials in Havana "do not have exact details about Cuban nationals" involved "independently" or "as part of the armed units of the conflicting parties".

The ministry in Havana stated 26 Cubans had been convicted to jail sentences ranging from five to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since September 2023 when news spread of Cubans being dispatched to the front in the conflict.

I Want to Live Initiative Discloses Details on Cuban National Recruitment

The surrender initiative, a state initiative that urges enemy combatants to give up, reported in spring: "We have confirmed the personal data of 1,028 Cuban nationals who enlisted with the Moscow's troops in recently."

The Cuban authorities said of those who might be participating: "It is irrefutable that not a single one has the encouragement, commitment, or consent of the Cuban authorities for their actions."

Kin of Cuban nationals who traveled to the Russian Federation in 2023 told Agence France-Presse at the time that their family members had been tricked into joining through advertisements on digital networks.