Russian Strikes Kill Eight in Ukraine as Putin Warns European Troops Would Mean War

KYIV: Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and wounded dozens of others on Saturday, as President Vladimir Putin warned that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to direct conflict with Russia.

The latest Russian air campaign involved ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, with attacks targeting residential areas and critical infrastructure, including Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the winter season. Ukrainian officials said the strikes were aimed at undermining civilian morale and damaging essential services.

Two people were killed and another was wounded when Russian drones struck a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, while attacks on Kryvyi Rih left one person dead and three injured. In the Black Sea port city of Odesa and surrounding areas, 35 people were wounded in a major overnight assault that also severely damaged the upper floors of a residential high-rise.

Further attacks in Kramatorsk and Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region resulted in additional civilian deaths, according to local officials. Ukrainian authorities also reported that their forces had carried out strikes against two chemical-industry facilities in Russia’s Samara and Perm regions.

Putin Warns Europe Against Troop Deployment

Speaking at the BRICS summit in India, Putin warned that the deployment of European troops to Ukraine would constitute a war with Russia. Several European leaders have expressed support for the possibility of establishing a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a proposal Moscow has repeatedly rejected.

Putin also rejected suggestions that Russia poses a threat to Europe, saying Moscow does not intend to threaten European countries. His comments come amid growing concerns over incidents involving Russian drones near Ukraine’s borders with Moldova and Poland.

Zelenskyy Open to Meeting Putin

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be prepared to meet Putin if both leaders were invited to the upcoming G20 summit in Miami in December. The Kremlin, however, has not confirmed whether Putin will attend the summit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow remains ready for negotiations, but stressed that Russia’s military operations would not be suspended during the negotiation process. The conflicting positions underline the significant challenges facing international efforts to secure a lasting settlement to the war.