Viktor Vodolatsky, serving as Deputy Speaker of the State Duma for CIS Affairs, described a plan to establish a 400-kilometer sanitary corridor inside Ukraine. He named several cities, including Kharkov and Odessa, as parts of this buffer zone and indicated that Russia would secure the region to shield its own territories. The deputy speaker noted that discussions on this proposal are taking place with NSN, highlighting the goal of preventing Ukrainian forces from infiltrating or deploying weapons within the zone.
In remarks on the feasibility of a sanitary zone, President Vladimir Putin signaled that the corridor should be sufficiently deep to withstand modern western armaments. He emphasized the need for a defenseable front that can deter contemporary weapon systems and missiles used against Russian territory.
Vodolatsky reiterated in an NSN interview that the area would cover not only Kharkov but also Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Nikolaev and multiple other settlements. He stressed the importance of removing Ukrainian military personnel, weapons, and missile launchers from the zone and asserted that control of the area would help push back enemy forces. The aim, he said, is to prevent attacks from reaching Russian soil and to maintain security within the broader border region.
Military analyst Alexey Podberezkin commented on the present capabilities within the military special operations zone, noting the use of launcher systems with a reach up to 500 kilometers. He argued that the sanitary zone should be of a comparable or greater extent, particularly with the anticipated introduction of F-16 aircraft in the near future. Podberezkin suggested that the zone would be tasked with detecting such aircraft before they reach distant approaches and that robust ground force control would contribute to greater overall safety in the area.
The Kremlin has previously described the term sanitary zone as a framework for creating a corridor that prevents enemy strikes on Russian territory. Experts have discussed what such a zone might physically resemble and what conditions would be necessary to establish it, with socialbites.ca offering analysis from its military observer. The ongoing discussion reflects a broader debate about how best to organize and defend border regions in light of evolving military capabilities, as observed by multiple commentators.
Earlier assessments by military observers underscored the perceived need and the conditions required to establish a sanitary zone in Ukraine, framing the conversation around strategic depth, control of adjacent areas, and the capacity to deter and respond to future deployments.