52 years since the start of the MGH, the return of the cyborgs, and arsenic in the water: what November 6 is remembered for

November 6 left a notable mark on the history of Korabelnyi District and Mykolaiv. On this day, construction began on what would become an alumina giant; residents welcomed the defenders of Donetsk Airport, fought to save Mayak Forest, and successfully challenged the city’s controversial zoning plan in court. In later years, the date brought warnings of a water pipeline collapse, reports of unsafe water near the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, Russian strikes, widespread power outages, and new evidence of war crimes.

November 6, 1974: construction of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant began

The construction site of the future Mykolaiv Alumina Plant was levelled. The plant’s former chief engineer for capital construction, Anatolii Andreichenko, called this the beginning of the plant’s history. Interestingly, a nuclear power plant had previously been considered for the site, and plans called for demolishing Halytsynove and part of Lymany to make way for it. It has been 52 years since construction of the plant began.

November 6, 2014: Mykolaiv welcomed the defenders of Donetsk Airport

Late in the evening, paratroopers from the 79th Separate Airmobile Brigade, who had defended Donetsk Airport, returned to Mykolaiv after a rotation. At about 23:20, the servicemen arrived at their base in 3 buses. Around 120 people greeted them with applause, embraces, and cries of “Heroes!” Residents formed a guard of honour for the defenders and sang “Warriors of Light.”

November 6, 2014: activists pushed to see the prosecutor over Mayak Forest

Community activists went to the prosecutor’s office in Korabelnyi District, demanding that disputed plots of land in Mayak Forest be returned to the state and that construction be halted. According to the participants, they managed to meet prosecutor Ihor Domushchyi only after making repeated demands. The activists submitted written appeals and accused law enforcement of dragging out the case.

November 6, 2017: court overturned Mykolaiv’s controversial zoning plan

The Mykolaiv District Administrative Court ruled unlawful the city council’s decision to approve the city’s zoning plan. Adopted on August 11, 2016, the document sparked protests over the threat of development in green spaces, parks, waterfront areas, and Mayak Forest. The zoning plan’s cancellation was later upheld on appeal.

November 6, 2020: a teenager died of COVID-19 in Mykolaiv

A 17-year-old boy died of coronavirus in Mykolaiv. The city’s mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, announced the tragedy, noting that it was the city’s first child death from COVID-19. The boy died on his birthday. The previous day, the region had confirmed 224 new cases and 6 deaths.

November 6, 2021: horrific crash killed a father and two children

At about 01:48, a Chevrolet Lacetti and a VAZ-2101 carrying a family collided on the M-14 highway near the village of Shevchenkove. The crash killed 3 people—the driver and two children aged 3 and 5. Another 4 family members were hospitalized.

November 6, 2022: two Iranian drones struck an industrial facility

At about 02:05, Russian forces struck industrial infrastructure in the Halytsynove community. According to information from the Operational Command “South,” 2 Iranian kamikaze drones hit an industrial facility, while Ukrainian air defense shot down 1 more drone. Production facilities were damaged. There were no casualties.

November 6, 2023: laboratory confirmed unsafe water near the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant

A State Production and Consumer Service laboratory report dated November 6 confirmed that the tap water tested in the villages of Halytsynove, Lymany, and Lupareve did not meet sanitary standards. Arsenic and bacterial contamination were found in the samples. The regulator recommended an immediate ban on using the water for drinking and cooking. Local activists suspected that the plant’s residue fields were responsible, but these tests did not establish the cause of the contamination.

November 6, 2023: ex-lawmaker sentenced to 15 years for planning a “Mykolaiv People’s Republic”

The Security Service of Ukraine announced the sentence handed to former Mykolaiv city council member Serhii Shubin: 15 years in prison. According to investigators, he worked with Russian military intelligence, gathered information about Ukrainian servicemembers, and developed a concept for a so-called “Mykolaiv People’s Republic,” which the occupiers planned to establish after seizing the region.

November 6, 2023: family of slain police officer received his award

In Mykolaiv, the brother of fallen special forces officer Yurii Khyzhynskyi received the “Defender of the Fatherland” medal, awarded to the officer posthumously. The 29-year-old lieutenant was killed on January 19, 2023, when Russian forces shelled a vehicle carrying Mykolaiv police officers in the Beryslav district of the Kherson region.

November 6, 2024: Russian attack left tens of thousands without power

During the night of November 6, Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in the Mykolaiv region. Ukrainian air defense destroyed 7 Shahed drones, but damage could not be avoided. Initially, more than 40,000 consumers were left without electricity. As of 08:00, 25,500 residential and 1,500 commercial consumers in the Pervomaisk district were still without power. The outage affected 21 settlements and part of Pervomaisk.

November 6, 2025: the world learned of the disaster on the Kinburn Spit

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk described the disastrous condition of the Kinburn Spit, which was under Russian occupation. According to him, the fighting had caused widespread destruction of forests and unique natural ecosystems. It remained unclear whether the protected area could be fully restored.

November 6, 2025: Angelina Jolie’s visit to Mykolaiv confirmed

The international organization Legacy of War Foundation confirmed Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s trip to Mykolaiv and Kherson. During the visit, she met with healthcare workers, volunteers, and local families, drawing attention to life in frontline cities. The visit itself took place earlier; official confirmation was released on November 6.

On this day in Ukraine

On November 6, 1943, Soviet troops liberated Kyiv from Nazi occupation during the Kyiv Offensive. The operation was a major stage of the Second World War, but it came at an enormous cost in human lives.

For Korabelnyi District and Mykolaiv, this date brings together the history of major industrial construction, the struggle over land, long-standing urban infrastructure problems, and the trials of wartime. From the first work at the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant to the return of heroes and Russian attacks, behind every event are people’s lives and the history of the city.

Earlier, we reported:

• Do not drink untreated water: hyperchlorination begins in Mykolaiv
• Mykolaiv plans to hyperchlorinate its water: the decision is already being challenged in court
• Selling doesn’t mean restarting: is the State Property Fund speculating on the privatization of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant?
• Still actively engaged in life: Korabelnyi District’s honorary veteran turns 90!
• Leave intrigue behind, keep the plant in your heart: Mykolaiv Alumina Plant veteran addresses the plant director ahead of 2026