At least eight civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in Russian strikes across Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin warned European countries that sending troops to Ukraine would amount to direct war with Russia.
The latest attacks came as Russia intensified its aerial campaign against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, with officials reporting casualties in several regions. The strikes have added to concerns over the security of Ukraine as European governments discuss possible security guarantees and a future peacekeeping force.
Two people were killed and another was wounded when Russian drones struck a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. In Kryvyi Rih, one person was killed and three others wounded, while officials in the Odesa region reported 35 people wounded in what was described as a major overnight attack.
The strikes come as Russia continues to rely heavily on drones and missiles to attack Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow is increasingly targeting energy infrastructure ahead of winter, raising fears that the campaign could put additional pressure on Ukraine’s power supply and civilian population.
Putin issued his warning to Europe while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi on Friday.
Asked about discussions among European governments about potentially deploying troops to Ukraine, Putin said such a move would mean “a war with Russia”. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the possibility of European forces being deployed in Ukraine, even as part of a potential post-war security arrangement.
Putin also insisted that Russia does not pose a threat to Europe.
“There is no such threat and never has been,” he said, adding that Russia was not threatening European countries and did not intend to do so.
Several European leaders have been discussing security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire or peace agreement. Some have expressed willingness to contribute troops to a potential multinational force, although the precise role, size and mandate of such a force remain unresolved.
The Kremlin has consistently opposed the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, warning that their presence could bring Russia into direct confrontation with European countries.
The latest escalation also comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue. Ukraine has been seeking stronger guarantees from its European partners while negotiations involving Kyiv, Moscow and the United States remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued carrying out long-range drone attacks against targets inside Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had struck two chemical-industry facilities in Russia, in the Samara and Perm regions. Russian regional authorities had not immediately confirmed the reported attacks.
Russia has also stepped up attacks close to Ukraine’s western borders. A Russian strike hit a truck near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border, temporarily disrupting operations at the crossing. Russia said it was targeting infrastructure linked to European military supplies.
A separate Russian drone strike also hit a train near the same border shortly after a diplomatic delegation had passed through the area. No casualties were reported from the train incident, but the attacks have heightened concerns about the conflict’s potential to spill closer to NATO territory.
With Russian aerial attacks intensifying and Europe debating how far it should go in supporting Ukraine, Putin’s latest warning underscores the growing risk of a direct confrontation between Russia and European forces if troops are eventually deployed on Ukrainian soil.
Leave a Reply