In brief

• According to Money.pl and Ukrainska Pravda, Moldova has launched the Vulcănești–Chișinău transmission line connecting it with Romania; President Maia Sandu says the country no longer buys Russian gas.
• According to Deutschlandfunk and Ukrainska Pravda, Russian drones struck Ukrainian cities, including Kremenchuk, Sloviansk and Balakliia, and power outages affected five regions, including Kyiv.
• According to NV and TSN, Marco Rubio considers security guarantees for Ukraine a key topic of the 10–11 November talks in Abu Dhabi, while stressing that the arrangements are still preliminary.
• According to TSN, citing the Telegram channel Exilenova+ and Governor Drozdenko, drones hit the KINEFF plant in Kirishi in the Leningrad Oblast, and the governor himself confirmed the attack and a fire in the industrial zone.
• According to DW, G7 foreign ministers will meet in Paris to determine Europe's role in American efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Polish press

According to the Polish portal Money.pl, Moldova has put into operation a new energy link with Romania, through which it aims to reduce its dependence on Russia. President Maia Sandu, as the same service reports, speaks of ending years of energy pressure from Moscow, and the investment is also meant to give the country more options when buying electricity ("Nigdy więcej". Mołdawia ogranicza zależność od Rosji – Money.pl). Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainska Pravda) describes the same step from a different angle: it notes that the Vulcănești–Chișinău connection ties Moldova to the Romanian grid, and according to Sandu the country no longer buys Russian gas, which is linked to the launch of the line being part of a broader break from Russian supplies (Молдова запустила ЛЕП з Румунією та відмовилася від російського газу – Українська правда).

German press

According to the German Deutschlandfunk, Russian drones struck Ukrainian cities: in Kremenchuk in the Poltava Oblast at least four people were injured, and in Sloviansk a commercial building was destroyed. Deutschlandfunk also reports that in the port city of Odesa Russian attacks cut power supplies, and recently power outages have affected five regions of the country, including Kyiv (Ukraine-Krieg - Russische Drohnenangriffe auf ukrainische Städte – Deutschlandfunk). Ukrainska Pravda, a Ukrainian news portal, reports separately that in Balakliia in the Kharkiv Oblast a Russian attack hit the city centre, injuring three people and damaging residential buildings and a cultural facility (Росіяни вдарили по центру Балаклії на Харкіщині: 3 постраждалих і пошкоджені будинки – Українська правда); both cases show that strikes on civilian infrastructure are continuing in different parts of Ukraine at the same time.

According to DW, the German public broadcaster, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he will nominate Ilse Aigner as candidate for President of Germany; she is to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier when his term ends in early spring next year. DW reports that Aigner, a politician from the CSU and president of the Bavarian parliament, would be the first woman in this office if elected on 30 January. However, this material concerns Germany only and contains no information about Russia, so this paragraph adds nothing to the overview of "what others write about Russia". (Germany: Chancellor Merz to nominate Aigner for president – DW)

According to the German DW, G7 foreign ministers will meet in Paris to discuss how Europe can join American efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine. DW reports that the meeting coincides with talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi, and that European governments fear the US may press Ukraine into a settlement favourable to Russia. French minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that Europeans and France will take part in these talks (G7 ministers meet as Europe seeks greater say in Ukraine peace talks – DW).

Slovak press

According to the Slovak HNonline.sk, Ukraine reported attacks on four Russian drone control centres, including one in Berdiansk where the elite Rubicon unit was reportedly stationed, while Moscow claims it struck three vessels carrying weapons for Ukraine and two electrical substations. Agencies DPA and Reuters, cited by HNonline.sk, also report that Russia's defence ministry pointed to strikes on container ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk (Ukrajina hlási útoky na ruské centrá dronov. Moskva tvrdí, že zasiahla lode so zbraňami – HNonline.sk). The German Deutschlandfunk, by contrast, reports Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and power outages, which shows that strikes on civilian and military infrastructure are running in parallel on both sides of the front.

Ukrainian press

Українська правда, a Ukrainian news portal, reports that on the evening of 8 November a Russian attack hit the centre of the town of Balakliia in Kharkiv oblast. According to the head of the local military administration, Vitaliy Karabanov, three people were injured: one man with shrapnel wounds, who was taken to hospital, and two girls who suffered severe stress and received help on site. The same outlet reports that apartment buildings and a cultural institution were damaged, and the extent of the losses is still being determined. Ukrinform writes similarly, adding that Karabanov announced this on Telegram and that no specific weapon was attributed to the attack, while the assessment of the damage is still ongoing (Three injured in Russian strike on Balakliia – Ukrinform).

According to Українська правда, a Ukrainian daily, Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced on social media the launch of the Vulcănești–Chișinău transmission line, connecting her country with Romania and the European energy system. Sandu also reportedly said that Moldova no longer buys Russian gas, and that, in her view, two more lines to Romania will soon be built. The Ukrainian edition recalls that until 2022 Moldova depended almost entirely on Gazprom, and that some Russian gas still reached the Moldovan power plant in Pridnestrovie (Transnistria).

The Ukrainian news outlet NV, a Ukrainian information publication, reports that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio considers security guarantees for Ukraine to be one of the key topics of peace talks. According to NV, Rubio hopes for progress at the trilateral meeting of Ukraine, the USA and Russia in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for 10–11 November, and also reminded that fighting must end first. The outlet notes that Russia will be represented by Vladimir Medinsky, which according to NV may indicate Moscow's greater readiness for substantive talks (Рубио назвал гарантии безопасности Украины одной из ключевых тем мирных переговоров – NV).

Ukrainian media, including TSN, report the words of the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, who said that security guarantees for Ukraine remain one of the key topics in talks on ending the war. As TSN reports, citing DRM News, Rubio confirmed that talks between Ukraine and Russia with the participation of the USA are to take place on 10 and 11 November in Abu Dhabi, and that, in his view, the arrangements reached so far are preliminary proposals that have not yet been finally approved. (Рубіо розкрив, про що йтиметься на переговорах в Абу-Дабі – TSN)

The Ukrainian NV reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared readiness to speak with Vladimir Putin if he appears at the G20 summit in Miami in December; according to NV, however, it is not yet known whether the Kremlin chief will attend the meeting. Merz reportedly said this during a public conversation with citizens in Hagen, and NV cites a Westfalenpost publication from 8 November, which quoted his words that the host of the summit, Donald Trump, had invited Putin and that he would not shy away from talks. NV also recalls that, according to earlier reports from The Atlantic, Trump wanted Ukraine and Russia to sign a peace agreement during the summit. (Мерц заявил, что готов поговорить с Путиным на саммите G20 в США – NV)

The Ukrainian TSN reports that Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced the launch of a new transmission line, Vulkaneshty–Chișinău, linking Moldova's energy sector with Romania and the European grid. According to TSN, Sandu stated on the platform X that for decades Moscow blackmailed Moldova with energy, and that Moldova no longer buys Russian gas («Більше не потрібен»: У Молдові оголосили про повне припинення купівлі російського газу – TSN).

The Ukrainian TSN, citing an analysis by Defense Express, reports that Russia may have gathered almost all of its strategic bombers at the Ukrainka airbase in the Far East: according to this data, it has 10 Tu-160s and 37 Tu-95MS there, and since the beginning of November eight additional Tu-95MS and one Tu-160 have been moved in, probably without shelters. Defense Express notes that the scale of the concentration could be unprecedented since the start of the full-scale invasion, and that the relocation of the aircraft was chosen instead of building hangars at Engels airbase, which has still not been completed despite plans from 2025. (РФ зібрала майже всі стратегічні бомбардувальники на одному аеродромі: що задумав Кремль – TSN)

The Ukrainian edition of NV (a Ukrainian portal, NV) reports that US President Donald Trump, in an interview for the programme 60 Minutes on CBS News, published on 8 November 2026, suggested that after the end of the war Ukraine may have different borders. According to NV, Trump named the personal animosity between Zelensky and Putin as the main obstacle to peace and stated that a deal is "very close". NV also reports that Trump denied having lifted sanctions on Russia, and said that the USA continues to supply weapons to Ukraine, but that Europe is paying for them. (Трамп намекнул на возможное изменение территории Украины после завершения войны – NV)

The Ukrainian edition of NV (Новое Время) reports that on the evening of 8 November the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant regained external power after being completely disconnected from the grid, when the 330 kV Ferrosplavna-1 line was connected at 17:41. According to NV, Energoatom warns, however, that the situation at the plant remains extremely dangerous, and as long as the ZNPP is under Russian occupation, there is a risk of further blackouts and threats to nuclear and radiation safety. NV also notes that this was already the 16th loss of power at this plant since the beginning of 2026 (Запорожская АЭС восстановила внешнее электроснабжение после блэкаута – NV).

Ukrainian media report that Donald Trump, in an interview for the programme "60 Minutes" on CBS News, named hatred between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin as the main obstacle to ending the war. According to the Ukrainian NV, Trump simultaneously claimed that the sides are close to a peace agreement, and when asked which of them he trusts more, he did not answer directly (Трамп назвал ненависть между Зеленским и Путиным главным препятствием для мира – NV). This diplomatic thread runs in parallel with reports of massive attacks: according to the German Deutschlandfunk, Russian drones struck cities in Ukraine, and power outages covered five regions, including Kyiv, which shows that pressure on civilian infrastructure is not easing despite declarations about moving closer to talks.

According to the Ukrainian TSN, citing the Telegram channel Exilenova+, during the night of 9 November drones attacked the KINEFF oil refinery in the town of Kirishi in Leningrad oblast in Russia, and a fire was recorded after the attack. The outlet reports that, according to social media, this was the first attack on this enterprise since August 2026, and that the plant is said to process about 20 million tonnes of oil a year. TSN also cites the words of Governor Alexander Drozdenko, who confirmed the attack and stated that 81 unmanned aerial vehicles had been shot down over the region and that hits were recorded in the Kirishi industrial zone (Дрони знову атакували один із найбільших НПЗ Росії: у Ленінградській області горить КИНЕФ – TSN). NV writes similarly, reporting that the KINEFF plant in Kirishi was attacked by drones during the night from Sunday to Monday, 9 November, and local residents describe a strike on the refinery and a large fire (Один из крупнейших НПЗ РФ: дроны атаковали нефтеперерабатывающий завод в российских Киришах Ленинградской области — видео – NV).

The Ukrainian television channel TSN reports, based on a material drawn from Donald Trump's interview with 60 Minutes, that the American president suggested the possibility of other territorial shapes for Ukraine after a peace agreement is concluded. According to TSN, Trump identified the personal dislike between Zelensky and Putin as the main obstacle to ending the war, and also announced talks scheduled for 10–11 November in Abu Dhabi. TSN also cites his assurances that he is applying harsh sanctions against Moscow, and his claim that he had provided Kyiv with anti-tank weapons («Матиме дещо інші обриси»: Трамп натякнув на територіальні зміни України після мирної угоди – TSN).

The Ukrainian press, including Espreso, reports the statement of American analyst Mark Toth, who, in a conversation with a journalist from the programme "Studio Zachód", claims that Washington considers the war lost by Russia and that its positions at the front are weakening; according to Toth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly conveyed to Putin a warning regarding hybrid actions against Europe (США бачать, що Росія програє війну, а її позиції слабшають: Тот розповів, із яким сигналом Реткліфф приїздив до Путіна – Espreso). Earlier, the German DW reported that the foreign ministers of the G7 are meeting in Paris to determine Europe's role in American peace efforts for Ukraine. Both accounts share the question of whether and how Europe can influence the talks on ending the war.

According to the Ukrainian Espreso, journalist and presenter Maryna Danyliuk-Yarmolaieva accuses the head of the SBU, Serhii Duk, of having relatives who hold Russian passports and bank accounts in Russian banks, and yet he was promoted to the rank of major general. According to the same statement, Espreso also cites accusations against the Russian criminal Yegor Burkin, whom the journalist describes as having Russian citizenship and possibly maintaining contacts with Ukrainian law enforcement officers; these are her assessments, not established facts. (Родичі з паспортами РФ і зв'язки з окупованими територіями: Данилюк-Ярмолаєва про російський слід у СБУ – Espreso)

The Ukrainian TSN reports that Iran has resumed talks with Russia on strengthening its air defence, and among the systems requested are Russian S-400 systems. According to TSN, citing The Telegraph, during a visit by the head of Iran's security service to Russia, Tehran's actions in the event of a war with the USA were discussed, among other things. The Ukrainian portal also notes that experts doubt Moscow would hand over these systems, because they are the basis of its own defence, and Ukraine regularly destroys them (Тегеран просить у Путіна С-400: чому Росії дедалі складніше віддавати системи ППО – TSN).

According to the Ukrainian portal Espreso, Patriarch Kirill has in recent months spoken about demography, abortion, the Soviet past and the war, and his words, although some of them may be regarded as ordinary religious admonitions, when compared with the documents of the Moscow Patriarchate, its support for Kremlin policy and its practice toward churches in occupied parts of Ukraine, are supposed to create, in Espreso's view, a picture of religious authority subordinated to the needs of the state (РПЦ: від проповідей про мораль до виправдання війни – Espreso). Espreso also points to the patriarch's selective approach to the USSR: he condemns the communist social experiment, while at the same time praising the Soviet atomic bomb as a manifestation of God's grace.

The Ukrainian portal NV, in an opinion piece by Michael Getto, writes that the Serbian student-led protest movement defeated Aleksandar Vučić in elections; Vučić ruled Serbia for nine years and consistently advocated a pro-Russian policy in Europe. According to NV, the change of power in Belgrade is expected to weaken Vladimir Putin's position in the Balkans, and the author assesses that the Kremlin may focus on salvaging the remnants of its influence (От Белграда до Еревана. Как Москва стремительно теряет мировое влияние – NV).

The Ukrainian Espreso reports that the hacker group Silent Crow claims that after breaking into the databases of Russia's Rosstat, it found, as of the end of August 2026, over 410 thousand records of deaths directly related to military operations or their consequences. According to this group, the total number of losses, which also includes nearly 15 thousand non-combat deaths of soldiers, would amount to 450,100, and Espreso notes that these are data presented by hackers, not verified by independent sources. Espreso also cites its own calculation by the group Kiberpartyzany BY, according to which the number of Russians killed would be 393,881. (Понад 410 тисяч загиблих: хакери оприлюднили дані про втрати Росії після зламу Росстату – Espreso)

The Ukrainian Espreso, an information portal from Ukraine, writes that Serhii Beskrestnov (Flesh), adviser to the President of Ukraine on the development of defence technologies, explained on Telegram that, given widespread jamming of navigation, the inertial guidance system of the Iskander missile does not provide accuracy to within a metre, so, in his view, optical or radar warheads are used, which correct the course in the final seconds of flight (Флеш пояснив, завдяки чому росіяни влучно б'ють ракетами по мостах – Espreso). The same outlet recalls that on 7 November the Northern Bridge in Kyiv was damaged, and earlier Russian missiles hit the Southern Bridge. The German Deutschlandfunk, in turn, reports that Russian drones struck cities in various parts of the country, and that in Odesa attacks interrupted power supplies, which shows that strikes on civilian infrastructure are continuing in many regions at the same time.

Lithuanian press

The Lithuanian daily Diena.lt reports that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged progress in determining what Ukraine's and all of Europe's post-war security infrastructure might look like. According to Diena.lt, Rubio spoke to journalists before leaving for Paris for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, and talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States, are planned in Abu Dhabi this week. The portal also quotes Rubio saying that nothing has been finally agreed yet, and cites Donald Trump's announcement of a “very big” agreement with Moscow covering all of Europe (Marco Rubio sako matantis pažangą sprendžiant, kaip po karo Ukrainoje atrodys saugumo infrastruktūra – Diena.lt).

Belarusian press

The Belarusian portal Charter 97, which according to it the text was published in its Opinion section, presents the events in Moscow as a sign that Putin's system is losing its struggle with the young generation. The author writes that the authorities, which he considers degraded, combine repression of young people with propaganda and youth organizations that, he claims, produce no results. Charter 97 also reports that there was a confrontation with young protesters in Moscow, although the details of the events in the material are general. (Битва с молодостью – Charter 97)

The Belarusian portal Reform.news, which is blocked in the country, reports statements by Donald Trump to CBS News. According to Reform.news, the U.S. president claims that he is close to concluding an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, as a result of which Ukraine's borders may change somewhat, and that had he been in office in 2021–2025, the war would not have broken out. Reform.news also reports that Trump pointed to the mutual hatred between Zelensky and Putin as the main obstacle to peace, and when asked about trust, answered that he gets along well with both of them. (Трамп: Украина будет иметь другие очертания в результате сделки – Reform.news)

The Belarusian portal Reform.news, which operates from abroad and is accessible in Belarus only via VPN, reports that overnight a drone attack hit the Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery in Kirishi, Leningrad Oblast, Russia, and a fire broke out in the industrial zone. According to Reform.news, Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported that 113 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over the region and that fragments struck an apartment in the city, from which a family was evacuated; Pulkovo airport reportedly could neither receive nor release aircraft for more than an hour and a half. (НПЗ атакован в Ленинградской области – Reform.news) The Ukrainian TSN, citing the Telegram channel Exilenova+, reports on the same attack and also on a fire at the plant, which according to social media was the first since August 2026. TSN also gives a different number of downed drones (81). Both outlets describe the same attack on the same refinery, which shows that the reports differ in details, especially in the number of drones shot down.

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