3 killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine as Putin warns Europe against sending troops

KYIV, Ukraine - Russian strikes claimed the lives of three civilians and left dozens injured on Saturday, according to local officials. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that sending European troops into Ukraine would result in direct conflict with Russia.

Ukraine is facing increasing pressure from Russia's aggressive air campaign, utilizing ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones to infiltrate defenses. These attacks have specifically targeted Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter, with the aim of demoralizing civilians. One person died and three others were wounded when Russian drones struck a residential area in Zaporizhzhia overnight, while a separate attack in Kryvyi Rih left one person dead and three others injured.

In the Black Sea port of Odesa and its surrounding region, 28 people sustained injuries in what regional head Oleh Kiper described as a "massive attack," including a residential highrise whose upper floors were entirely destroyed.

Russian President Putin made his stance clear at a BRICS summit in India on Friday, stating that if European governments were to send troops into Ukraine, it would equate to a direct war with Russia. He repeatedly emphasized that Russia does not pose any threat to Europe, asserting, "There is no such threat and never has been." Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern over two incidents along Ukraine's borders with Poland and Moldova this week, which he deemed as a preview of potential intensified Russian provocations at Ukraine's border crossing points with Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, stated that he would be willing to meet with Putin if both leaders were invited to the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether Putin will attend the summit, and Zelenskyy's proposal to meet Putin has been rejected by Kyiv.