Officials have discussed the idea of establishing a so-called sanitary zone in Ukrainian territory, with the aim of creating a buffer based on artillery reach and air defense capabilities. Lieutenant General Nikolai Staskov, who serves as the first deputy commander of the Russian Air Force and formerly led the staff, indicated that such a zone would be defined by a destruction radius of approximately 70 kilometers. He noted that a region of this kind would operate in a practical, though conditional, manner and is currently under discussion with relevant authorities.
This concept aligns with remarks previously voiced by President Vladimir Putin, who said that any protective area should be deep enough to withstand modern Western weapons. General Staskov added that the actual size of the zone would depend on the weapons that Ukraine might receive. If missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometers were supplied to Kyiv, the protective corridor could become substantially larger than initially anticipated.
Staskov emphasized that a zone extending up to 70 kilometers could be established by accounting for the combined capabilities of artillery and rocket forces. He stressed that while the creation of such a zone is technically feasible, its effectiveness would be conditional and contingent on ongoing military deployments and real-time movements on the battlefield.
The general explained that in practice, self-propelled artillery units could operate within the designated zone, execute strikes, and withdraw, which would give the zone a degree of dynamic control rather than a rigid, static boundary. He also noted that both sides in the conflict sometimes relocate artillery systems away from the zone, which could complicate enforcement and monitoring.
According to Staskov, a unilateral declaration of a zone would rely on robust air defense coverage and comprehensive military assets to deter incursions into Russian-held areas within the zone. He underscored that such a measure would require careful coordination with air defense and ground forces to ensure protection for adjacent Russian territories along the border.
It is worth recalling that discussions about the possibility of a sanitary zone resurfaced last year at higher levels of government in Moscow. Officials indicated that the process of designing and evaluating such a region had been ongoing for an extended period, with several months of deliberations cited by insiders. The conversation surrounding the zone has been framed as part of broader strategic efforts to manage cross-border risks and reinforce regional security in response to evolving threats.
Putin previously highlighted the importance of the border and rear areas in relation to the Kyiv military group, a reminder that strategic depth and defense lines are central to planning. The ongoing dialogue reflects a focus on how best to balance deterrence, risk management, and practical enforcement in a volatile security environment, as reported by multiple sources familiar with the discussions and official briefings.