buffer zone

Russia creating buffer zone near Sumy border — DeepState

Invading Russian forces are establishing a buffer zone along the international border in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, OSINT (open-source intelligence) project DeepState reported on April 14.

15 April, 12:18 AM

Zelenskyy says no threat from reported Russian buffer zone plan in Vinnytsia Oblast

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he sees no threat of Russia creating a buffer zone in Vinnytsia Oblast, speaking to reporters, Ukrinform reported on Apr. 10.

10 April, 02:29 PM

Russia’s new Vinnytsia buffer zone plans show expansive goals beyond Donbas

New information about Russia’s expansive territorial goals in Ukraine beyond Donbas — including plans to create a buffer zone in Vinnytsia Oblast from the direction of Transnistria — confirms Moscow is manipulating its demand for Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk Oblast as a condition for ending the war, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said in its latest report on April 8, analyzing statements by Deputy Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

9 April, 01:02 PM

Russia eyes buffer zone from Transnistria flank

Russian forces have plans to create a “buffer zone” extending into Ukraine’s Vinnytsia Oblast from the direction of the Transdniestria, the unrecognized separatist enclave in Moldova, Ukrainian presidential office deputy head Pavlo Palisa told RBC-Ukraine on April 8.

8 April, 10:07 AM

President’s Office denies Le Monde report claiming Ukraine agreed to buffer zone in Donbas

Ukraine’s President’s Office has denied reports that Kyiv agreed to U.S. terms on establishing a buffer zone in Donbas. Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said this on Dec. 12, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

12 December 2025, 12:36 PM

New version of U.S.-backed peace plan does not include amnesty or NATO entry ban for Ukraine

The new version of the U.S.-backed peace plan for Ukraine consists of four documents. One is a 20-point agreement between Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union, Ukrainian outlet ZN.UA reported on Dec. 11.

11 December 2025, 04:19 PM

‘We already have a death zone’: Zelenskyy calls buffer zone plan for Ukraine ‘big mistake’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the so-called buffer zone in Ukraine already exists, and any equipment that enters it is destroyed. He made the remarks in an interview with ABC, published by his office on Sept. 9.

9 September 2025, 08:35 PM

Ukraine faces tough choices in EU's buffer zone proposal

European leaders are considering the establishment of a 40-kilometer buffer zone along the front line in Ukraine as part of a future peace agreement. Ihor Romanenko, founder of the Close the Sky Over Ukraine Charity Fund, a retired lieutenant general, and former deputy chief of Ukraine’s General Staff, discussed the feasibility and dangers for Ukraine in an interview with Radio NV on Aug. 29.

29 August 2025, 01:45 PM

Europe explores 40-km demilitarized zone between Ukraine frontlines

Europe is weighing the creation of a 40-kilometer buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian frontlines as part of a potential peace deal, Politico reported on Aug. 28, citing five European diplomats.

29 August 2025, 10:25 AM

Russia planning 10km Dnipropetrovsk Oblast incursion, spy chief says

Russian forces plan to advance up to 10 kilometers into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to establish a “buffer zone,” Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 11.

11 July 2025, 07:40 PM

Russia short on resources to create buffer zones, says Ukrainian Border Guard

Russian forces lack the resources to establish a buffer zone along Ukraine’s northeastern border, despite Kremlin claims, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on national television on June 30.

30 June 2025, 11:52 AM

Russia’s plan to create buffer zone destroys 90% of Vovchansk

Russian tactics to create a buffer zone have left less than 10% of Vovchansk’s housing intact, aiming to make areas like Sumy Oblast uninhabitable, Territorial Defense Forces spokesperson Major Taras Berezovets told Radio NV on June 17.

18 June 2025, 04:53 PM

Russia controls 100 square kilometers in Sumy Oblast, expanding zone, expert says

Russian forces control approximately 100 square kilometers of Sumy Oblast and are gradually expanding their zone, having occupied the area since March 2025, military expert and former SBU officer Ivan Stupak told Radio NV on May 27.

29 May 2025, 03:06 PM

Russia amasses over 50,000 troops near Sumy for new northern assault

Russia is now massing more than 50,000 troops along the Sumy axis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press briefing, Interfax-Ukraine reported on May 27.

28 May 2025, 12:59 PM

Russia shifts offensive focus, redeploys forces to northern Sumy Oblast — ISW

Russia is moving forces from Donetsk to Sumy Oblast, signaling a shift in the focus of its offensive operations, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on May 26.

27 May 2025, 09:00 AM

Russia occupies four villages in Sumy Oblast

Russian forces have seized the villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast in an attempt to create a so-called “buffer zone,” regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported on Facebook late on May 26.

27 May 2025, 08:11 AM

Putin’s buffer zone twist is cover for further invasion of Ukraine, says military expert

Under the guise of creating buffer and sanitary zones on the border with Ukraine, Russia wants to continue territorial seizures and occupation, a military expert and former Security Service (SBU) officer, Ivan Stupak, told Radio NV on May 23.

23 May 2025, 01:34 PM

US pushes demilitarized zone plan on Ukraine — Kyiv’s position uncertain

Ukraine could create a 30-kilometer demilitarized zone on the front lines, with both sides of the war retaining control, Keith Kellogg, US special envoy to Ukraine, claimed in an interview with Fox News on May 6.

7 May 2025, 12:20 PM

Russia launches advance on Sumy Oblast to build buffer zone and pressure the city — ISW

Russia is likely aiming to establish a so-called “buffer zone” along Ukraine's northeastern border, may seek to place artillery within range of Sumy city, finally making it uninhabitable, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on April 9.

10 April 2025, 11:07 AM

Moscow’s ‘peace’ playbook: Stall talks, divide West, crush Ukraine

Russia should weaken the US negotiating position on Ukraine by creating tensions between Washington and its allies, while working towards the destruction of the Ukrainian state, The Washington Post reported on March 12, citing a document of “maximalist demands” prepared for the Kremlin by a think tank close to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

13 March 2025, 08:54 AM

buffer zone

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