“Buffer zones” in Ukraine: what are they and what is their danger

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to promote the idea of creating so-called “buffer zones.”

As explained by the American Institute for the Study of War, such statements sound like a tool for implementing new territorial claims against Ukraine.

In particular, analysts recalled how Putin, during his speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, stated that Russian troops had already “found themselves” in territories outside the four regions that Russia had illegally annexed, and then recalled the saying “where the foot of a Russian soldier goes, there is Russia.”

At the same time, he said that “in principle” he does not rule out Russia’s seizure of the city of Sumy, although, according to him, Russia is not currently pursuing this goal. Analysts also note that Russian officials have called on Putin to create a “buffer zone” in the Dnipropetrovsk region to protect the occupied Donetsk region from Ukrainian attacks, and have justified the Russian offensive in the northern Kharkiv region as an attempt to protect the city of Belgorod from Ukrainian shelling.

ISW analysts also drew attention to the fact that Russian officials called for the creation of a “buffer zone” within the Dnipropetrovsk region, allegedly to protect the occupied part of Donbas, and also explained the offensive in the northern part of the Kharkiv region by the need to “protect Belgorod” from attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“The Kremlin continues to demonstrate that it will not be satisfied with the seizure of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions and will use the buffer zones as a pretext to justify its territorial ambitions outside these four regions,” ISW emphasized.

Reference: A “buffer zone” is a neutral area between two zones of influence or states, created to reduce tension, prevent conflicts and ensure security. It can be used in a military, environmental or administrative context.

Let us recall that earlier Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated that he does not rule out the capture of Sumy, however, he stated that at present the Russian army does not have such a goal .