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Friday, September 25 Russia's war against Ukraine A maternity hospital is damaged in Kyiv’s Podilskyi district by an overnight Russian ballistic missile attack against Kyiv on Sept. 24, 2026. (Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Ukrainian forces reportedly strike oil refinery 1,500 kilometers from border, Russian electronics factory. Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery located about 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia and an electronic components factory overnight on Sept. 25, monitoring channels reported. Russian overnight attack on Kyiv sets fires, damages buildings. A Russian missile and drone attack set fires in Kyiv and damaged a commercial building overnight on Sept. 25, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Ukraine strikes 'very important' deal on new batch of Patriot missiles, Zelensky says. "It's an important decision, a very important one. We've achieved a result," President Zelensky said at a meeting with leaders of the Ukrainian community in the U.S. Polish Deputy PM says Starlink station fire possibly Russian sabotage. Gawkowski said there were indications that the fire, which broke out at the station in Wola Krobowska, in Poland's Masovian Voivodeship, on the evening of Sept. 23, may have been an attempt to disrupt its operations. Ukrainian drones attack Russia's Rostov Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, allegedly targeting oil depots. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, including Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Krai, overnight on Sept. 24. Zelensky vows to come to Moscow for Putin talks 'on a missile.' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Russian side did not interpret Zelensky's remark as ruling out a visit to Moscow. Suspected Russian drones crash in Romania, Moldova. Suspected Russian drones crashed in Romania and Moldova overnight on Sept. 24, amid a sustained mass drone and missile attack on Ukraine. Zelensky sees Miami G20 as 'best' chance to finally sit down with Putin. "I believe this is one of the best opportunities proposed by the U.S. side," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Read our exclusives Ukraine war latest: Russia targets Ukrainian data centers, accused of Polish Starlink sabotage A fire at a Starlink ground station in Poland may have been a deliberate attempt to disrupt internet access used by Ukrainian forces at the front, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski told reporters on Sept. 24. Photo: Eugene Kotenko / AFP via Getty Images Read more Russia puts Ukraine’s internet in its sights as attacks on Kyiv infrastructure intensify Russian strikes have hit multiple data centers and internet providers in Kyiv over the past two days, disrupting service for around 100,000 households as Moscow expands its attacks on Ukraine's internet infrastructure. Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images Read more Kyiv Independent recommends 5 translated Ukrainian books to look out for in late 2026 and early 2027 This November marks a milestone for Ukrainian literature in English translation — and especially for Ukraine's literary legend Yuri Andrukhovych. Photo: Collage: Elena Kalinichenko / The Kyiv Independent Read more Human costs of war Russian attacks kill at least 16, injure 59 across Ukraine as Kyiv hit by waves of drones, ballistic missiles. Russia launched 282 attack drones of various types overnight, including jet-powered drones, as well as Zircon anti-ship missiles and Iskander-M, S-400, and KN-23 ballistic missiles, the Air Force said. General Staff: Russia has lost 1,523,980 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,540 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day. International response Europe's crackdown halves shadow fleet ships sailing under false flags, report says. Sanctions and detentions have forced 107 shadow vessels to join the Russian flag registry since January 2025, leaving them with few other options as open ship registries tighten oversight, a CREA report said. Ukraine, Taiwan on agenda at Trump-Xi summit in Washington. Ahead of the U.S.-China summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Sept. 22 that he hoped Trump would encourage Xi to use his influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to move the peace process forward. US allocates $27 million for the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. "We are sincerely grateful to the United States for its unwavering and strong support of efforts aimed at the return, rehabilitation, and full reintegration of Ukrainian children and young people," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. EU sanctions Xenia Fedorova for brainwashing France with Russian propaganda. Xenia Fedorova ran RT France from 2017 until it was forced to shut down by EU sanctions. Denmark warns Russia could escalate hybrid attacks against NATO in coming months. The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) said Russia had become increasingly willing to take risks as the security situation in Europe deteriorates. Australia commits to long-term Ukraine support, rolls out 100-plus new Russia sanctions. Canberra also announced a 60 million Australian dollar ($42.2 million) support package for Kyiv. Opinions and insights Washington attempts dealmaking, Moscow sticks with warmaking "I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions," Lindsey Graham joked hours before his passing. Nine weeks later, the bill bearing his name became law with the U.S. president's signature. Reflecting the wishes of the American people, Congress placed a very large stick in the hands of the executive: tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. It will matter only if Trump swings it. Photo: Peter Kovalev / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Read more In other news 'A horrific crime' — Ukrainian man kills 1, injures 4 in stabbing at Polish monastery. "We are shaken by this evil," President Volodymyr Zelensky said after a Ukrainian man killed a priest and injured four others in a knife attack at an abbey in Jaroslaw, Poland. Ukraine's disgraced ex-prosecutor general moves to Austria, media report says. Ukrainska Pravda cited records from Austria’s Central Register of Residents. According to the register, Kravchenko and his wife are registered on 7 Jordangasse, apartment 12 in downtown Vienna. You've made it this far, which means you care. Ukraine Daily has never missed a morning — not through blackouts, not through mass attacks. Our mission is to show the world the truth of what is happening here. Becoming a member helps us keep doing that, every single day. EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP MAKE A DONATION This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand's visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Click here for more details. Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Kate Tsurkan, Tim Zadorozhnyy, Chris York, Polina Moroziuk, Oleg Sukhov, Chris Powers, Jimmy Rushton, Jonas Heins, Yuliia Taradiuk, Martin Fornusek, Abbey Fenbert, and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today. 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