‘They’ll Fence Us In’: Moscow Forces Russians to Flee Border ‘Gray Zone’

In a newly intercepted phone call released by Ukraine’s Main Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), a resident of Russia’s Belgorod region complains that the authorities are deliberately creating unbearable living conditions for people in border areas.

“Listen, they called me and said they’ve cut off the gas along the border. The authorities say: just hold on a bit longer. It’s obvious – they want to force everyone out of the border villages,” the man says during the call.

According to him, local officials are preparing to turn the frontline area into a closed-off zone – something resembling a “gray zone” or a “temporary accommodation area.”

“They’ll turn it into a zone, like those other ‘zones’... And that’s it – they’ll even fence us in with barbed wire,” he adds.

Earlier this month Kyiv Post reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin once again called for a “security buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine, a move Kyiv sees as a clear sign that the Kremlin is not interested in peace.

On Monday President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a closed meeting with journalists that Russia is currently attempting to create a so-called “buffer zone” about 10 kilometers deep in Sumy region, amassing over 50,000 troops.

Ukraine’s intelligence agency added: “For every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people, there will be just retribution.”

Other Topics of Interest

Former President Poroshenko on Ceasefire, 2014 Lessons, Trump, and UN

In a wide-ranging discussion at the Black Sea Security Forum 2026, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reflected on Ukraine’s transformation since 2014, arguing that the country has broken decisively with its Soviet past, built Europe’s strongest army, and must pursue EU and NATO membership as the foundation of its long-term security.

Earlier last year, Kyiv Post interviewed Maria* who works as one of Ukrainian intelligence’s professional eavesdroppers and spoke about the shocking things she hears.

Russia regularly dismisses the content of intercepted calls published by Ukraine, saying they are fake, a claim Kyiv Post put to Maria. She said: “They are all are real even though they might seem insane. Sometimes I can’t believe the words I’m hearing myself, but we have what we have.”

Kyiv Post regularly reposts some of the most revealing and shocking intercepted conversations. Check out more of these intercepted conversations:

‘Wipe Them Out Mercilessly’ – Russian Commander Orders Execution of Any Who Disobey, Intercepted Call Reveals

‘They Drive Tanks for Vodka’ – Intercept Reveals Drunk Russian Troops Terrorizing Border Village

‘We Already Took His Stuff’: Russian Soldiers Plan to Kill Comrade, Intercept Reveals Brutal Army Reality

‘We Need to Take Odesa’ – Russian Woman Cites Fake ‘Biolabs’ to Justify Mykolaiv Attacks

‘The F**king Guys Are Dying!’ – Intercepted Call Reveals Chaos and Command Breakdown in Russian Army

‘They Even Ate Theraflu, Mom’ – Intercept Reveals Russian Soldiers Starving on Front Lines

‘Finally Those Bastards Are Getting Hit’ – Border Russians Revel in Moscow’s First Taste of War

‘Shoot the F**ks, Battalion Commander’s Order’ – Intercept Catches Russians Ordering Fire on Their Own

Russian Soldier Threatens Deserters With ‘Meat Assault’ Suicide Mission: ‘That’ll Be Fun, Right?’