Putin says he will create a "buffer" zone in Kharkiv region, Ukraine reacts

Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, commented on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's recent statement that he intends to create a "buffer zone" on Ukrainian territory to prevent attacks on Russia.

Speaking to Reuters, Podolyak said Putin's words showed that Russia has no plans to stop its aggression against Ukraine.

"This is a direct statement that the war will only escalate," Reuters quoted Podolyak as saying. "All this is a clear indication that the Russian Federation is not ready to live in modern social and political relations and take into account the absolutely sovereign rights of other countries.

On Sunday evening, a Russian media outlet asked Putin whether Kharkiv region could be annexed to Russia in light of the attacks on Belgorod and Kursk regions by Ukraine.

"I do not exclude that, given the tragic events taking place today, we will be forced at some point, when we consider it appropriate, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' in the current territories subordinated to the Kyiv regime," Putin said.

Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was a matter of creating a "buffer zone" "so that any means that the enemy can use to strike are out of range".

After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the winter of 2022, the Kharkiv region became the scene of fierce fighting, during which Russian troops unsuccessfully tried to break through to Kharkiv. The Russian army also occupied a large part of Kharkiv region, which was liberated during the autumn counter-offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces in late 2022.

Over the past week, Russian authorities have reported constant shelling of the Belgorod region by Ukraine, which has killed more than 10 people.