The Kremlin says its plan to create a ‘buffer zone’ on Ukrainian territory hasn’t failed. So why does Russia’s Belgorod region keep coming under fire? — Meduza

Russia’s Belgorod region has been coming under fire practically since the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — and the shelling and drone attacks have only intensified over time. Four months ago, Vladimir Putin called for the region to be protected by a new “buffer zone” on Ukrainian territory, and in May, Russian troops began a new offensive in the Kharkiv region with the aim of seizing territory for this purpose. But the Belgorod region has continued to come under fire, and on Tuesday, its governor announced that entry to 14 border villages would be restricted — effectively creating a “buffer zone” on Russian territory. Nonetheless, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has insisted that the plan to create such a zone in Ukraine hasn’t failed and is still in progress.