Medvedev Outlines Plans to Expand Russian ‘Security Zone’ into 3 Ukrainian Regions

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Russian leadership intends to establish a new “security zone” that would encompass the territories of Ukraine’s Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions.

According to reports from the Russian state news agency TASS on Sunday, July 5, Medvedev framed the expansion of this buffer zone as a continuation of military objectives recently outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The new security zone, which the head of state spoke about yesterday, will pass through the territory of the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions,” Medvedev stated.

In his statement, Medvedev also claimed unspecified successes by Russian forces on the frontline and employed hostile rhetoric toward the Ukrainian government and its Western partners.

He asserted that Western countries are deliberately hiding the true state of affairs on the battlefield from their populations, while accusing Kyiv of spreading false information to secure continued financial support for its defense.

Putin’s previous statements on buffer zones

Medvedev’s comments follow recent declarations by Putin regarding Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. During a visit to the auxiliary command post of the Joint Group of Forces on July 3, Putin announced that Russian forces would continue conducting mass strikes against Ukraine.

As reported by the Russian news agency Interfax, Putin stated that strikes targeting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and the infrastructure supporting its operations must continue.

Other Topics of Interest

Russia Proposes Temporary Ceasefire in Kostiantynivka Amid Disputed Control Claims

The Russian Defense Ministry has proposed a temporary, localized ceasefire in Kostiantynivka for July 6 to transfer the bodies of fallen soldiers.

During that same visit, Putin explicitly stated that in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian cities, Russian forces would expand a “security zone” within Ukrainian territory, specifically citing ongoing operations in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

Furthermore, the Russian president claimed that the Russian military had fully captured the Luhansk region and the city of Kostiantynivka, while making advances in the Donetsk region.

The claims regarding Kostiantynivka have been debunked by both Ukrainian military officials and independent analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), who confirmed that the settlement remains under Ukrainian control and that the Russian presence is limited to isolated sabotage groups.