Russia’s push towards Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk is to create a buffer zone: Kremlin

The Kremlin said on Monday that an advance by Russian forces towards Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region was partially motivated by a desire to create a “buffer zone.”

Russia said on Sunday its forces had advanced to the edge of the east-central Ukrainian region as the war intensifies despite so far shaky peace efforts.

Asked if the advance was designed to create a buffer zone, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Without a doubt that is part of it.”

Separately, Russian troops took more territory in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region and carried out a massive strike on an airfield near a settlement of Dubno using long-range air-launched weapons, Russian agencies said on Monday, citing the Defense ministry.

The strike was a retaliation to the Ukrainian attacks on Russian military airfields, the Defense ministry said.