Russia Plans to Create a “Buffer Zone” in Vinnytsia Region from the Transnistrian Side
The Russian Federation is considering the possibility of creating a so-called buffer zone in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region from the side of the unrecognized territory of Transnistria, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa said.
According to him, Russian forces are constantly adjusting their plans, including revising the timelines for their implementation. At the same time, Russia’s main focus in 2026 will remain on the Donbas.
“They will also, under favorable conditions, expand and intensify their efforts in the southern direction — particularly along the Oleksandrivka axis and across the entire Zaporizhzhia region,” the official said.
Palisa emphasized that Russia’s plans still include creating buffer zones in border regions, particularly in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. The enemy is also seeking to create conditions for a possible capture of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and, in the long term, to occupy the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions.
He also drew attention to a new element in Russia’s plans concerning the Vinnytsia region.
“Moreover, their plans now include the creation of a buffer zone in the Vinnytsia region from the side of unrecognized Transnistria. This is the first time such intentions have been recorded. Frankly, there is no need to panic, as at present I do not see them having sufficient forces to implement all these plans,” Palisa stressed.
Thus, despite the emergence of new threatening scenarios in Russia’s plans, Ukrainian authorities assess their implementation as unlikely in the near term due to the enemy’s limited resources.
On April 7, more than 100 combat engagements took place along the front line. Russian forces активно used aviation, kamikaze drones, and artillery, but Ukraine’s defense forces are disrupting their plans and exhausting enemy resources.
Also during the day, Russian forces attacked settlements in the Zaporizhzhia district, injuring three people.
In the village of the Novobilouska community, two elderly women were injured as a result of enemy drone strikes on April 7, 2026. Explosions damaged residential buildings and outbuildings on two streets of the settlement.
