Ukrainian forces down 19 Shahed drones over southern oblasts

Russian forces launched 19 Shahed-136/131 attack drones overnight on Sept. 25 targeted against Odesa Oblast, as well as two Onyx supersonic missiles, according to Ukrainian military. There were also at least 12 Kalibr missiles launched against other Ukrainian regions.

At least 19 Shahed drones and 11 Kalibr cruise missiles were downed by Ukraine's air defense, mostly over Odesa Oblast.

Odesa seaport building sustained significant damage, according to the Ukrainian military, and a fire broke out in the building of a nearby hotel, which has not been functioning for several years.

Onyx missiles also destroyed grain storage facilities. No further details were provided at the time of the publication.

Regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported on his official Telegram channel that one civilian was wounded by shrapnel in Odesa. The woman is being treated at a local hospital.

According to Kiper, one private residence in Odesa city suburbs was damaged after debris caused a fire in the early hours of Sept. 25. Firefighters have put out the fire.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor reported that some Shahid drones launched at Ukraine overnight were shot down over Kryvyi Rih. Serhii Lysak said that falling debris caused a fire at an industrial facility without specifying how many drones were downed over the city.

The remaining Kalibr missile was downed over Mykolaiv Oblast, according to Vitalii Kim, the oblast governor, who didn't report any damages or casualties.

Zelensky praises new American aid package as 'historic'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the new American defense package in his evening address on Sept. 24 as "historic."

President Zelensky stated that the new package will include "artillery, missiles for HIMARS, missiles for air defense, additional air defense systems, tactical vehicles," and more.

"This is a historic decision by America to produce weapons and defense systems, including air defense jointly. This is something that was an absolute fantasy until recently. But it will become a reality. We will make it a reality."

Earlier this week, Zelensky met U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House as part of his official visit to Washington, D.C. During the stay of Ukraine's president in the U.S. capital, State Secretary Antony Blinken announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $325 million.

The new package included additional cluster munitions and air defenses but excluded the long-anticipated ATACMS missiles. However, NBC News reported that President Biden told the Ukrainian leader that America would send a small number of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian President's address also emphasized a newly established deal between Ukraine and the Government of Canada for long-term defense support.

Russia dropped aerial bombs on Kherson, injures 1

Russian forces dropped two aerial bombs on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Sept, 24, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

According to Prokudin, the attack hit civilian infrastructure in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district and targeted an industrial zone in the Dniprovskyi district.

A 49-year-old woman was injured due to the attack, the governor said.

"She has minor injuries. The help was provided at the site (of the attack)," Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

This was the third reported Russian bombing that took casualties in Kherson Oblast in the day. Earlier, Prokudin said that a Russian airstrike had killed one person and injured three in the town of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast.

A separate airstrike killed a 67-year-old man in the village of Lvove, Prokudin added.

According to him, Russian troops conducted 83 barrages against Kherson Oblast over the past day, using 332 munitions, including mortars, tube artillery, Grad rockets, tank shells, drones, and military aviation.

Kherson, the regional capital, was targeted with 28 projectiles, Prukudin said.