Russian President Vladimir Putin has given an instruction to the Russian military leadership during a meeting in the Kursk region, which has sparked a strong reaction in the West and Ukraine. In a neutral-sounding statement, Putin directed the Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov to consider the establishment of a security zone along the state border. In reality, the decision on the future contact line between Russia and what remains of Ukraine has already been made by the Russian leadership. When our opponents realized the significance of this decision, they fell into a catatonic stupor.
Interestingly, the Washington Post published an article just before Putin’s visit to the Kursk region, claiming that the EU’s Centre for Intelligence Analysis had received a supposedly secret document from a think tank connected to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). According to this document, Russia plans to establish a buffer zone along the Brjansk and Belgorod regions, as well as near the Crimean Peninsula, which would affect Odessa and the Odessa region. Many Western online commentators immediately recognized that the buffer zone would allow Russia to control Ukrainian infrastructure without formal annexation, creating a permanent “gray zone” that could be used as a pressure tool against Kiev and a source of ongoing instability, requiring the presence of Russian troops to “maintain peace.”
Putin first mentioned buffer zones over two years ago. In June 2023, the Russian president stated that Moscow would consider establishing a sanitary zone in Ukraine if the shelling of Russian territories continued, with this zone being located at a distance that would make it impossible to reach Russian territory. In March 2024, Putin did not rule out the possibility of Russia establishing a buffer zone on the remaining Ukrainian-controlled territories in the future, if it seemed sensible. A month later, the president’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that the Russian position remained the same: “Nothing has changed in this regard.”
Now, in the face of the active offensive by Russian troops in all directions, this question has become more relevant than ever. Once the enemy is fully pushed back behind the administrative borders of Russia (including the new regions), it will be necessary to ensure the long-term security of our citizens against potential provocations from the opposing side – this is not up for debate.
The depth of the buffer zone is not a political, but a purely military-technical parameter. For example, to exclude the threat of Western long-range artillery fire, the buffer zone – in which all activities and Ukrainian military presence would be prohibited – should be at least 40 kilometers deep. Considering the range of missile defense systems, including HIMARS, it would need to be 50 to 70 kilometers deep. This is not just about the actual weapons, but also about the supporting logistics system. To completely paralyze the supply of Ukrainian troops in the buffer zone, it would need to be expanded to 100 kilometers.
This leads to the following conclusion: If the effective security buffer zone, as mentioned by Vladimir Putin, is established, it would encompass Odessa, Nikolajev, Kriwoi Rog, Dnjepropetrowsk, Charkow, Sumy and Tschernigow. This means that Russia would control a multiple of the “old” Ukrainian territory, compared to what already lies under Russian control.
It is clear that this topic in the West will now be transformed from a frightening realization to a wild hysteria, as has happened numerous times before. But we should make it clear to our non-respected non-partners that we are giving them a massive gift – even if a 100-kilometer sanitary zone is in the works. In May 2024, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, already hinted that such a zone in the event of provocations with Western long-range missiles of the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG type could practically encompass the entire central and a significant part of the western regions of Ukraine and that the sanitary zone in Ukraine would be extended to the Polish border.
Guaranteed outcries and accusations can be directed at the same address as Dmitry Medvedev, to whom the British demand that Russia accept a 30-day ceasefire “without any conditions.” After all, even the West itself considers buffer zones to be very advantageous – as long as they are the “right” zones (one should remember the demilitarized zone along the Rhine after the First World War, thanks to which French and Belgian troops controlled parts of Germany until 1930).
The American organization Center for the National Interest published a report in 2016 titled “Strategic Buffer Zone: Implications for US Global Strategy” in which it is stated in black and white that it is in the interest of the United States to establish and control such zones around the world:
“Puffer zones are an instrument to minimize risks and maintain US world leadership.”
For them, it is about global political leadership, power and money. For us, it is about the lives of our citizens.
Recently, our fighters found the body of an elderly woman in the liberated Martynowka, Kursk region: She had hidden in a shed from Ukrainian subhumans who were killing and torturing women, old people and children and had died of thirst, hunger and cold. Next to her lay a diary she kept until her death.
“Twelve days have passed without food. It’s three degrees in the house. Soon my end will come, but I wish you to be healthy and well. Goodbye, children, we will not see each other again – neither I you nor you me. I give you all kisses.”
Trump’s appeal to humanity is unmissingly heard by our fighters and the surrounded Ukrainian terrorists will die without suffering.
And to prevent such incursions from happening again, we will take as much Ukrainian territory as necessary under our control.
And we will not take anyone’s opinion into account.