Russia’s progress in northeastern Ukraine can be bid for the creation of a “buffer zone”

The Russian forces are gaining profits in the Ukrainian Northeastern region of amounts – development that can be related to attempts by Moscow to create “buffer zones” along the border, Ukrainian regional authorities said.

The head of the amounts of Oleh Hristo said that the Russian forces had seized four villages and that the battles continue near other settlements in the area “in order to create the so -called” buffer zone “.

Russia claims that it has so far captured six villages in sums.

Last week, his leader Vladimir Putin announced a plan to create “security zones” along the border. “The enemy of the shooting is actively suppressed, the work is underway,” he said.

The buffer zones will be created to provide “additional support” of the areas in Russia, border by the regions of Harciv, sums and Chernihiv in Ukraine, Putin said.

In a statement on Facebook on Monday, Hristo wrote: “The enemy continues attempts to progress with the goal of creating the so -called” buffer zone “,” “

He added that the villages of Novenke, Baser, Veselka and Juravka – all in sums – were busy.

Kiev has not yet officially stated that the Russian troops are in the amount of sum and when contacted the BBC, Hristo declined to confirm the information he shared on Monday, stating that only the military could comment on the first line activities.

The daily briefings of the General Staff mentioned only clashes and other military activities in the “direction of Kursk” – which means to the border with Russia – without nameing specific places.

The group of forces of the Ukrainian army, which coordinate military activities in the region, refused the BBC’s request for comment, stating that information about the progress of the Russian north is an extremely sensitive issue for the Ukrainian authorities.

However, in his address on Monday night, President of Ukraine Volodimir Zelenski mentioned “Russia’s preparation for new offensives” – which is largely interpreted as a reference to events in the region of sums.

The Deep State Map, a group that monitors the latest first line developments in Ukraine, marks four Ukrainian villages, as is completely controlled by Russian forces, even before the announcement of Hirhorov.

Deep State co -founder Roman Pohori said Russian troops were being pressed in these areas since March.

Ukrainian military observer Kostantine Mashovets confirmed this, although he said that Russia’s progress is very slow – about 1 km (0.6 miles) in the last two weeks. Mashovets also said that Moscow has recently moved new units from Donbass – in the region.

Colonel Wadom Missnik, a spokesman for the formation of the ground forces involved in the protection of the region of sums, said the Russian forces use the most small groups of motorcycles and buggies during their attacks.

The movement of larger armored vehicles can be quickly noticed by drones and destroyed, Kol Missni explained. On the battlefield, speed and mobility are crucial.

But the region is regularly attacked by Russian air strikes and artillery fire, with the regional administration reporting that Russia has removed over 30 bombs in the area as of Saturday.

One of the largest attacks took place last month when The ballistic missiles hit the city of sums killing 34 peopleS A few weeks later drones hit Intercity Bus kills nine peopleS

Russia is aimed at residential buildings, hospitals and civilian vehicles to spread panic to the population, according to Color Missnik. Russia denies that it is aimed at strike civilians, stating that they are focused on military goals.

Local authorities say the evacuation takes place in 202 settlements near the front line, which represents one third of all territorial communities in the region.

Sergius Grabski, retired colonel and military expert, agreed that progress in sums is part of Moscow’s plan to create a buffer zone.

Grabski said that Russia’s main strategic goal is to seize the Donbass region to the east, where the most intensive fighting is fought.

Given the number of troops they have, Russia “cannot concentrate the main forces to go deep north,” Grabski argues.

He called the region of the “distraction zone” – since maintaining pressure north, Russia forces Ukraine to distribute its resources and weaken its positions in key front zones.

The US -based Institute for the Study of Military Trust also reports that any success in sums can be used by Putin as a lever and justification for new territorial demands as part of future peace talks.

However, observers agree that there is no immediate threat of a major breakthrough in the region of sums.

Based on the speed of their profits in the region, it is unlikely in the near future that the Russian forces will capture a large city as sums of 250,000 before the invasion.

Deep State Prohorily said Ukrainian troops were able to stabilize the front line. “It has been almost three months since (Russia) has started their work in the region and yet they are still in the border areas,” he said.

Kohl Missnik claims that Ukraine has built defensive lines across the limit since 2022 and are currently much better prepared to stop Russian forces than at the beginning of the Russian invasion.

But these measures may not last long if the Kremlin’s priorities change and Moscow sends more amounts of amounts.