🔗 Share this article Recent Refinery Attack Demonstrates 'Zero Safe Areas in Russia's Distant Backlines' Ukraine's UAVs have hit Russia's Bashneft refinery in Ufa, situated approximately 1,400 km from Ukraine, causing blasts and a fire, per a source in Ukraine's SBU. This marks the 3rd SBU deep strike in the region in the last month. These strikes illustrate that there are no secure zones in the distant backlines of the Russia. Ukrainian President Appeals to US President to Broker Peace in the Conflict Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the US President to broker peace in Ukraine over a telephone conversation on Saturday. "Provided that a hostilities can be stopped in a single area, then undoubtedly other wars can be ended as well, encompassing the Russian aggression," the President remarked, praising Trump's "exceptional" Middle East peace initiative and urging the President to compel the Moscow into talks. Moscow's Assaults Claim Lives in Ukraine Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory claimed the lives of five people on Saturday and cut power to areas of the south Odesa area, according to local sources. Two civilians lost their lives in a place of worship in Kostyantynivka when it was struck, as reported by municipal sources. In the Russian adjacent territory of the Belgorod region, a lorry operator was killed by a Ukrainian strike, as stated by local officials. Energy Restoration Work in Kyiv Work proceeded on the weekend to restore power in Kyiv, after Russian attacks. Electricity had been recovered to more than 800,000 citizens by the weekend and the biggest private energy company said the main operations to repair the grid was complete though certain disruptions continued. Air Defence Actions and UAV Interceptions Ukraine's defense forces neutralized fifty-four of seventy-eight Russian drones sent towards Ukraine overnight, the military announced on the weekend. The Russian defence ministry said it intercepted 42 drones over Russian territory. Cuba Rejects Accusations of Providing Soldiers to the War Havana on Saturday rejected American assertions it has provided troops to participate in the Ukraine war, while affirming the government "lack exact information about citizens of Cuba" participating "independently" or "within the troops of both sides". The foreign ministry in Havana stated 26 Cuban citizens had been convicted to prison terms varying between 5 to 14 years for participating as mercenaries since last September when news circulated of individuals being deployed to the frontlines in the conflict. Surrender Initiative Project Discloses Data on Cuban Recruitment The program, a Ukrainian government initiative that promotes opposing fighters to surrender, reported in spring: "Our information indicates the names and personal details of 1,028 Cubans who signed contracts with the Russian military in the past two years." The Cuban authorities commented of those who might be engaged: "There is no doubt that not a single one has the support, dedication, or consent of the Cuban authorities for their activities." Kin of Cuban nationals who left for Russia in the year told news outlets at the time that their loved ones had been misled into enlisting through advertisements on social media.