The head of the Russian General Staff announced that Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of the buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions for 2026

General Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces are advancing in northeastern Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of the buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions for 2026. Russia has intensified drone attacks, with bombings in Odesa resulting in four injuries, including three children. Russian authorities accuse Ukraine of drone attacks on Moscow, while Kyiv denies the accusations, considering them an attempt to derail peace talks. Gerasimov inspected the Northern troop grouping, which operates in northeastern Ukraine, in an effort to create a buffer zone.

At the same time, Ukraine launched drone attacks on Moscow, resulting in one civilian casualty. Russia shot down 27 Ukrainian drones, but details about the damage caused by the Ukrainian attacks are scarce. Tensions between Kyiv and Moscow continue to escalate amid peace talks.