Russian strikes killed three civilians and wounded dozens in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin warned European leaders against sending troops into the country, which would constitute direct conflict with Russia. The attacks hit residential areas in Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, as well as Odesa where 35 people were injured. Putin denies posing a threat to Europe but acknowledges that considering troop deployment in Ukraine equates to war. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted recent Russian provocations at border crossing points between Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European leaders that sending troops into Ukraine would constitute direct conflict with Russia. Following this warning, deadly Russian strikes hit several Ukrainian cities on Saturday, killing three civilians and wounding dozens more. The attacks included drone strikes and used missiles to target residential areas and a power grid in advance of winter conditions, aiming to demoralize the civilian population. In Zaporizhzhia, two people were killed and one injured by drones; in Kryvyi Rih, one person died and three others were wounded. The port city of Odesa saw 35 people injured in what regional officials called a "massive attack" that destroyed upper floors of residential highrises. Ukraine faces increasing pressure from Russia's intensifying air campaign involving ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones penetrating Ukrainian defenses.
Written for “War In Ukraine” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 8227 · logged 2026-09-12
Deadly Russian strikes hit Ukraine after Putin's warning to European leaders
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strikes → hit → leaders
3 killed and dozens wounded in Russian offensive
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dozens → kill → offensive
Russian strikes killed three civilians and wounded dozens in Ukraine, local officials said Saturday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that sending European troops into Ukraine would amount to direct conflict with Russia.
Ukraine is under mounting pressure from Russia's intensifying air campaign that uses ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones to pierce defences.
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that → kill → defences
Moscow’s attacks have targeted Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter in what officials say is meant to demoralize civilians.
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officials → target → civilians
Two people were killed and one wounded when Russian drones struck a residential area overnight in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, regional head Ivan Fedorov said Saturday.
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Fedorov → kill → Zaporizhzhia
One person died and three others were wounded in strikes on Kryvyi Rih, according to local officials.
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others → die → officials
In the Black Sea port of Odesa and the surrounding area, 35 people were wounded in what regional head Oleh Kiper called a "massive attack."
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Kiper → surround → what
Among the buildings hit was a residential highrise, whose upper floors were completely destroyed.
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floors → hit → buildings
Putin, speaking to reporters at the BRICS summit in India on Friday, said that if European governments send troops into Ukraine, it will mean "a war with Russia."
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it → speak → Russia
"Now they're talking about how they're considering sending troops into Ukraine.
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they → talk → Ukraine
That means a war with Russia," he said.
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he → mean → Russia
Some European leaders have pledged their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force, a prospect that Moscow has repeatedly described as unacceptable.
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Moscow → pledge → that
Putin denies threat to Europe, despite incursions
Putin also denied Russia posed any threat to Europe, saying "there is no such threat and never has been.
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Russia → deny → Europe
"
"We do not threaten, nor do we intend to threaten, European countries," he said.
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he → threaten → countries
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday that two incidents along Ukraine's borders with Poland and Moldova this week were a preview of potential intensified Russian provocations at Ukraine’s border crossing points with Europe.
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incidents → say → Europe
Two people died when Russian drones hit the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova on Tuesday night, while a "direct threat" to a Polish-Ukrainian crossing point on Wednesday night was only avoided thanks to co-operation between Warsaw and Kyiv, he said.
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he → die → Warsaw
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Deutsche Welle, in an interview published Saturday, that he would meet Putin if both leaders were invited to the Group of 20 summit of rich and developing nations in December in Miami.
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leaders → tell → Miami
Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday that the possibility of Putin attending the summit had not yet been discussed.
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possibility → say → summit
The Kremlin in the past has said that Zelenskyy can come to Moscow if he wants a meeting with Putin, a proposal Kyiv has rejected.
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Kyiv → say → Putin
