Putin orders creation of 'security zone' along border with Ukraine
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian president (Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin told military officials he wants to establish a "security zone" along the border with Ukraine, according to Russian media.
Putin announces the creation of a "security zone" along the border with Ukraine in the area of responsibility of the North grouping.
Russian media claim this refers to taking control of areas in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions that border Russia.
On 30 November, Vladimir Putin received reports from his generals about Russia’s alleged capture of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that the army’s command also briefed Putin on the results of offensive actions on other fronts.
What territories does Putin claim to 'capture'?
As previously reported, on 1 December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that despite Russia’s statements, Ukrainian defenders had cleared almost all Russian forces from Kupiansk.
Earlier, on 26 October, Russian generals told the dictator that Ukrainian troops had allegedly been "encircled" in several areas. Among those supposedly "encircled" was Kupiansk, and Putin even considered inviting "media representatives" to the city.
Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian troops had been actively destroying Russian forces in Pokrovsk over the past week, clearing more than a third of the city.
According to Syrskyi, Russian leadership is spreading false claims about the situation in Kupiansk.
Meanwhile, ISW has explained why Putin is lying about the "imminent collapse" of Ukraine’s front line.
