Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday that its forces were establishing a buffer zone in the areas of northeastern Ukraine's Sumy region that border southwestern Russia's Kursk region, where Moscow recently said it forced out Kyiv's troops.
President Vladimir Putin proposed establishing the so-called “buffer zone” to safeguard the Kursk region from future attacks during his visit there in March. His proposal was followed by reports of a potential Russian offensive, which Ukraine's top commander confirmed last month.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin last week that the Kursk region had been “fully liberated” with the help of North Korean soldiers. Kyiv maintains that its forces are still present in parts of the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion in August 2024.
“The creation of a 'security belt' continues on the territory of Sumy border areas in Ukraine,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday.
Sumy region Governor Oleh Hryhorov said Tuesday that Russian troops struggled to gain "significant success" in carving out a buffer zone.
He said four border villages were in a "gray zone" due to border attacks, with the DeepState open-source battlefield monitor saying 82 square kilometers (32 square miles) of the Sumy region are under neither side's control.
Meanwhile, Russian state media quoted an anonymous Russian security source as saying that Ukrainian forces were establishing "several defensive lines" in the Sumy region.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
