Russia's Gerasimov says Putin ordered Ukraine buffer zone expansion in 2026

Kyiv, Dec 31 (Agencies): Russian drones targeted apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine's Odesa overnight, injuring six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday.

Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration, said four apartment buildings were damaged in the attacks. Power company DTEK reported significant damage to two of its facilities and noted that 10 electricity substations in Odesa region had been damaged in December alone.

Russia has intensified long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities this year, increasingly targeting energy infrastructure to disrupt heat and water supplies during winter. From January to November, over 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 injured, a 26 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2024, according to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Russia's top general said its forces were pressing forward in northeastern Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin had ordered expansion of territory Moscow calls a buffer zone there in 2026, Russian news agencies said on Wednesday.

Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Putin ordered expansion in 2026 of the buffer zone in Ukraine's regions of Sumy and Kharkiv near the Russian border, RIA said, adding that he inspected the "North" troop grouping.

The grouping, formed in early 2024, has operated in northeastern Ukraine, seeking to create a buffer along the border and trying to push back Ukrainian forces there for further advances.

Gerasimov's remarks follow Russia's vow to retaliate for what it claimed, without evidence, was an attempt to attack Putin's residence, an allegation Kyiv denied, saying it was aimed at derailing peace talks as the war nears its fourth year.

There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine to the Gerasimov report.

Putin has repeatedly portrayed the buffer zone as a way to push Ukrainian forces and weapons farther from Russia's border, citing cross-border shelling and drone attacks on regions such as Belgorod and Kursk.

Kyiv has rejected Moscow's buffer zone calling it an idea Russia is using to justify deeper incursions into Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine says no evidence

it attacked Putin residence

Ukraine said Tuesday there was no "plausible" evidence it launched a drone attack on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's residences, accusing Moscow of peddling falsehoods to manipulate talks on ending the war.

Ukraine's allies have expressed scepticism about Russia's claim.

A French presidential source said the Kremlin's statements were not backed "by any solid proof, including after cross-checking information with our partners".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has called Russia's claim a "complete fabrication", said he would meet with leaders of Kyiv's allies on January 6 in France in a bid to renew peace efforts.