The key facts

  • Putin: creating a 'security zone' along the border with Ukraine will not be a subject of peace talks
  • Gerasimov reported massive strikes on energy infrastructure and troops reaching the outskirts of Kramatorsk
  • The Ukrainian side did not comment on the statements; independent verification is difficult due to the war

Putin's statements

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking before military commanders during a visit to a command post on Friday, said that efforts to create a 'security zone' along the border with Ukraine will not become a subject of negotiations with Kyiv. He recalled that after the Ukrainian Armed Forces' incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024, the troops were tasked not only with pushing out the Ukrainian forces but also with creating such a zone. 'Our goal is to ensure the absolute security of Russia's border territories for the future, and we do not intend to make this a subject of potential peace talks with Ukraine,' Putin said, dressed in military uniform. He called the fulfillment of the task successful and noted the effectiveness of strikes on Ukrainian defense industry facilities and logistics centers. According to him, in response to Kyiv's strikes on Russian industrial and fuel and energy facilities, the Russian Armed Forces continue strikes on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises and infrastructure, and it is necessary to continue 'massive, coordinated' strikes.

Context of the ceasefire and talks

US President Donald Trump announced a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday. Since then, both countries have accused each other of violating the agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine would resume strikes after a three-day pause. The Kremlin, for its part, said Russia continues contacts with the US on the ceasefire issue. In May of last year, Putin ordered the creation of a 'buffer security zone' along the border with Ukraine after pushing Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region.

Claimed results and goals

Putin said that since the beginning of the year Russia has captured about 6,500 square kilometers of territory and taken control of 310 settlements in Ukraine. He called the capture of Donbas a key goal, claiming that about 10% of Donetsk region and about 16.5% of Zaporizhzhia region remain under Kyiv's control.

Gerasimov's report

Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who reported to Putin on the situation at the front, said Russia has begun delivering 'massive' strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure: a list of targets has been compiled and the necessary set of means for their destruction has been determined. According to him, strikes are also being carried out on strategically important bridges, railway infrastructure and data centers 'serving the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.' He stated that systematic strikes on port and logistics infrastructure have led to the suspension of operations at major Black Sea ports, and steel production in Ukraine has stopped after airstrikes. Gerasimov also said that since September 1 the Russian military has taken control of more than 1,800 square kilometers of territory and 92 settlements, and that the strikes have 'significantly reduced' Kyiv's ability to produce long-range weapons. According to him, Russian troops have reached the outskirts of Kramatorsk, the temporary administrative center of Donetsk region; fighting continues in Druzhkivka south of Kramatorsk, and forces in Zaporizhzhia region are 5 km from the southern outskirts of the regional center. He also reported the 'destruction' of 2,000 encircled Ukrainian servicemen in the northeastern part of Kharkiv region.

Verification of claims

Ukrainian authorities did not promptly comment on the statements by Putin and Gerasimov; independent verification of the reported data is difficult due to the ongoing war.