Zelenskyy seeks buffer zone inside Russia, detailing locations and instructions to Defense Forces

The buffer zone towards Kharkiv must be established on the Russian side, and Ukraine’s Defense Forces have been ordered to do everything possible to make it happen, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists.

The head of state also commented on how to defend major cities from Russia, including Kharkiv.

«There is no single rule of defense, no single system of protection. Only the multi‑layered defense we used today can help. It is impossible to bury everything underground, so we must bury as much as possible. When we talk about energy supply, water supply, strategic facilities — they can be protected with air defense systems. People must be protected as much as possible with air defense, but there will never be enough of them, ” the president said.

Zelenskyy believes that a buffer zone needs to be created from the Kharkiv direction on Russian territory.

«Ukrainian forces must do everything to ensure that the buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine in the direction of Kharkiv region is on the Russian side. If such a buffer zone exists, then no artillery will be able to reach. One problem — a difficult problem, by the way — will be reduced, ” he said.