07:19 05-05-2026

Artamonov Urges Buffer Zone From Kharkov to Odessa

© North Atlantic Treaty Organization / www.nato.int

Alexander Artamonov says Russia should expand its buffer zone toward Odessa as NATO builds military support for Ukraine.

Military expert and Doctor of Sociology Alexander Artamonov believes Russian troops on the Kharkov and Sumy fronts are no longer facing only the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but NATO troops.

For that reason, he argues that Russia needs to expand its buffer zone as far as Odessa. In his view, this should be done before the alliance has time to build up its capabilities.

According to Artamonov, the Ukrainian side will prevent the Russian army from making decisive advances for a long time unless heavy military equipment is used, since this area opens a direct route toward Chernigov Region and Kyiv.

He noted that Western European countries have already become not only weapons production hubs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also training centers for military personnel. Under these conditions, Artamonov says the Russian army will have to take control of the Black Sea strip — at least Kherson, and, when forming a buffer zone, possibly territory up to Odessa.

The expert stressed that the faster this task is completed, the weaker the opponent Russia will face in the future, since the West is also increasing its power.

Earlier, retired Captain 1st Rank Vasily Dandykin said Russian troops were advancing actively on the Sumy front. At the same time, he recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that there is no task to take Sumy.