**Russia Claims to Be Creating “Buffer Zone” in Ukraine, but Kyiv Denies Reports of Incursion**
Russian forces are reportedly conducting an offensive in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as part of their efforts to create a “buffer zone” on Ukrainian territory. This claim was made by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on June 9, according to Russian state-controlled media. However, Ukrainian officials have denied these reports, calling them false and baseless.
The comments from Peskov allude to Russia’s long-standing claims that neighboring Ukrainian Donetsk Oblast belongs to Moscow. This assertion is based on Russia’s proclaimed annexation of the region in September 2022. The Kremlin spokesperson’s comments come as Russian forces have been making renewed advances in Donetsk Oblast, with President Vladimir Putin stating earlier this month that Moscow is working to establish a “security buffer zone” along Ukraine’s borders.
**Ukrainian Officials Reject Russia’s Claims**
But Ukrainian officials are not buying into Russia’s claims. Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that all Russian information about an offensive in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast “does not correspond to reality.” The Operational Command South also reported on June 8 that Russian troops are continuing attempts to break into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast but described the situation as “tense” rather than indicating any successful advance.
**Russian Defense Ministry’s Claims Disputed**
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on June 8 that its forces had entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, but Ukrainian officials immediately rejected this assertion. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, also called the reports false, stating that Russian forces have not advanced from the Pokrovsk or Novopavlivka directions.
**Background on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast**
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has remained free from confirmed ground incursions since 2014 when Russian aggression began impacting Donetsk Oblast. Despite this, the region has faced frequent Russian missile and drone attacks throughout the full-scale war. In April, the region initiated mandatory evacuations from four front-line villages as a precaution.
**The Importance of Independent Journalism**
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