Russia’s highest-ranking military officer says the country’s forces are continuing to advance in northeastern Ukraine, and that President Vladimir Putin has instructed the expansion of what Moscow calls a “buffer zone” along the border beginning in 2026, according to Russian state media.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said the planned expansion would affect Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions, both of which border Russia. The reports added that Gerasimov inspected the “North” troop grouping, a military force created in early 2024 to secure territory along the frontier and push Ukrainian troops further back.
His comments follow recent claims from Moscow that Ukraine attempted to attack the Russian president’s residence, an allegation Kyiv denies. Ukrainian officials have said Russia is using such accusations to disrupt peace negotiations as the conflict enters its fourth year.
There has been no immediate official response from Ukraine regarding Gerasimov’s remarks. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has previously condemned Russia’s buffer-zone plans as “mad,” insisting the regions will be defended.
Putin has argued that the buffer zone is necessary to protect Russian border regions from shelling and drone attacks. Kyiv, meanwhile, maintains that the policy is simply an excuse for Russia to seize more territory.
Behind the military statements are millions of lives disrupted on both sides of the border. Communities continue to hope for security, stability, and an end to the uncertainty created by a war that has reshaped daily life far beyond the front lines.
