Russia plans buffer zone in Vinnytsia region, Ukrainian official says
Russia wants to create buffer zone in Vinnytsia region (photo: Getty Images)
Russia plans to create a new buffer zone along the border with Ukraine in the Vinnytsia region from the side of unrecognized Transnistria, Deputy Head of Presidential Office, Brigadier General Pavlo Palisa said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
"Russians constantly change their plans, first of all, the deadlines for their implementation. Undoubtedly, their main focus this year will be on Donbas. And also, under favorable conditions, they will increase efforts in the southern direction – this is Oleksandrivsk and the entire Zaporizhzhia direction," Palisa said.
According to him, regarding their further intentions, Russians still have plans to create a buffer zone in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions.
They have also not abandoned creating conditions for an attempt to seize Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and, in the long-term perspective, to realize their aggressive ambitions to capture Mykolaiv and Odesa regions.
"Moreover, their plans even include a point about creating a buffer zone in the Vinnytsia region from the side of unrecognized Transnistria," the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office added.
He also stressed that this is the first time such plans have been recorded.
"Frankly speaking, there is no need to panic here, because at this moment I do not see them having the forces to implement all these intentions," Palisa emphasized.
Russia does not abandon the idea of buffer zones
Russian forces do not abandon the offensive and want to create a buffer zone in the Dnipropetrovsk region. At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine consistently conduct active defense and inflict significant fire damage on the Russians.
Russians are trying to create a buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. However, they are unlikely to succeed, as currently this is not their priority on front.
