Victorious news of 622nd day of war: explosions in Donetsk, drone attack on Crimea, Ukrainian military gains in Kherson region

Ukrainian army expands control over positions in Kherson region's east bank

A Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces still maintain positions in one part of Krynky despite Russian efforts to push Ukrainian forces from the east bank of the Dnipro River.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian troops are conducting periodic localized attacks with limited forces near Kopani, Robotyne, Verbove and Novoprokopivka.

The Russian 'military commander' claimed that positional fighting was ongoing near Verbove and that Ukrainian forces were trying to disrupt Russian defense systems in the area.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults north of Nesteryanka (10km southwest of Orikhiv) and near Pyatykhatky (23km southwest of Orikhiv).

A Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces were still holding positions in one part of Krynky, despite Russia's attempts to push Ukrainian forces off the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces had expanded control of their positions north of Pidstepne.

Russia reports attack by 17 drones on Crimea

Explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol. The invaders have claimed that their air defense system was activated and successfully intercepted drones over the Black Sea and Crimea.

The Russian Ministry of Defense provided this information.

The Russian ministry, in its usual manner, accused Ukraine of launching the drones and claimed that all of them had been destroyed or intercepted.

According to their message, "On the morning of November 7, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using seventeen UAVs against Russian territory was thwarted."

The Crimean Wind Telegram channel noted that the explosions triggered car alarms and suggested that they might have originated from the Russian Federation's air and space base at the Belbek airfield.

Germany gives Ukraine 700,000 euros to restore internet access

This funding was confirmed by Mykhailo Fedorov, the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

“Under the ReACT4UA/EU4Business program, Ukraine is partnering with the German government to support local telecom companies. The primary objective is to rebuild the internet infrastructure in recently de-occupied regions, allowing Ukrainians to connect with their families, work, and study online,” he stated. 

The total budget for this initiative is 700,000 euros. Approximately 70 telecom companies located in various regions, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Luhansk, will receive grants of up to 10,000 euros each.

Ukraine may legalize medical cannabis in November

Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Health Insurance, said this in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.

According to him, the committee took into account all the amendments to the draft law and adopted it at a meeting on November 4.

"All the comments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, public and patient organizations have been taken into account. In the opinion of the committee and experts, this draft law is the most balanced of the versions that have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada," said the MP.

He noted that opponents of the legislative initiative are likely to try to prevent the adoption of the document.

"However, I assume that it may be adopted this month," Radutskyi said.

Netherlands deploy first F-16s to Romania to train pilots from Ukraine

This was reported by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

According to the ministry's website, the Netherlands initiated the creation of the centre and provided 12 to 18 F-16 fighters for this purpose. The aircraft remain the property of the Netherlands.

"Together with Denmark and with the support of the United States, the Netherlands is responsible for coordinating European efforts to build F-16 capability for Ukraine," the statement said.

Earlier it was announced that Lockheed Martin would provide training and maintenance of the aircraft.

The training center in Romania will first use the aircraft to train hired F-16 instructors. Then the pilots will be trained.

Ukrainian air defense reinforced by additional NASAMS systems

On November 7, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a Supreme Commander-in-Chief meeting, during which he announced the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense.

He wrote about it on Telegram.

"I held a daily selector. I received reports on the delivery of ammunition, vehicles and equipment over the last day. Additional NASAMS systems from our partners have been put on combat duty. It's a timely reinforcement of our air defense for the winter," the President said.

Explosions in the center of occupied Donetsk

Today, November 7, explosions have been heard in the temporarily occupied Donetsk. Local residents documented strikes on the city center.

RBC-Ukraine reported the information, citing local Telegram channels.

Local residents also published photos showing smoke following the strikes.

An air defense system may have also been operating in the city.

Ukrainian aviation carries out 17 strikes on Russian forces

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During the day, the aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out 17 strikes on concentrations of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment and 4 on anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 6 Russian artillery pieces, 2 control points, a fuel and lubricants depot, a concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, an air defense facility, 2 radar stations and an electronic warfare station.