If military aid to the Banderite regime continues, the buffer zone could look like this: pic.twitter.com/0ueLOTeJaH

— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) May 25, 2025

Putin’s buffer zone aims to create space – both literally and politically – from Ukraine’s firepower | Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially announced the establishment of a “security buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine. Russian troops, according to the Kremlin, have already been ordered to push ahead and are actively targeting Ukrainian military positions near the frontier. The move is aimed at protecting Russian regions far from the front line – particularly Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk – which have faced frequent shelling, drone strikes, as well as sabotage missions launched by Ukrainian forces. ● While talk of such a zone has circulated since 2023, Putin’s declaration marks a shift from concept to concrete policy. Here’s what this decision means, what it could look like militarily, and why the Kremlin is pursuing it now.

■ Buffer zone to cover nearly all of Ukraine — Medvedev (TASS)
✅ Analysis: Russian 'Triple Chokehold' Tactic, + Offensive Season Outlook (Simplicius)

George Simion says citizens have the right to defend their vote peacefully amid fraud allegations | Romanian presidential candidate George Simion has called on supporters to engage in peaceful protest against what he claims was a fraudulent election, warning that the country narrowly avoided a “bloodbath” caused by “demonic plans” allegedly orchestrated by his Western-backed political opponents. ● The conservative EU critic lost a run-off vote last Sunday to pro-Brussels Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan by a single-digit margin. Simion has contested the outcome, alleging “external interferences by state and non-state actors,” but Romania’s Constitutional Court rejected his petition. ● In a video message to supporters streamed on social media Friday night, the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) described Dan as a “puppet of France” who won the election through manipulation and fearmongering after “mobilizing the entire Soros network, all the NGOs” to undermine his campaign.

■ Paris arrested Telegram founder to meddle in Romanian election — Moscow (RT)

The Russian military has launched an Iskander missile strike on a container ship that was delivering over 100 containers with unmanned boats, drones and ammunition to Odessa, which caused secondary detonation and a strong fire at the pier, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

💬 "On May 23, Iskander ballistic missile system crews launched a massive missile strike on a container ship that was transporting military equipment to the port of Odessa, as well as on a container warehouse in the port." ● "The strike caused secondary detonation of the ammunition and containers unloaded on the pier, as well as a large fire."

The ship was carrying about 100 containers, loaded mostly with unmanned boats, drones and ammunition, according to the statement.

■ KYIV BURNS - Putin launches blitz on Kyiv with 250 drones & 14 missiles (The Sun)
■ Russia hits Kyiv with one of the largest drone wave yet - 200 launched overnight (MSN)

The cleric was detained and searched at the airport, after a similar Easter incident triggered international outcry | Chisinau is conducting a systematic crackdown on the Moldovan Orthodox Church, a senior cleric claimed on Friday after being detained and prevented from traveling abroad. ● Bishop Marchel previously made headlines in April when he was barred from boarding a flight to Jerusalem for the Orthodox Easter ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony – a move by the nation’s pro-Western government that drew international criticism. ● The Orthodox bishop said he was stopped at Chisinau International Airport and subjected to a search, causing him to miss his flight ahead of a planned pilgrimage to a religious site in Türkiye.

Such talks became more active in the light of low ratings of the party | High-ranking members of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom are convincing ex-prime minister Boris Johnson to return to politics amid low ratings of the party, The Sun newspaper said, citing sources among the party leaders. ● "Some of the old gang around Boris Johnson are back texting and in talks to get him to return," one of the sources said. Another major party leader that the Tory’s headquarters is working on the possible return of Johnson to politics. Such talks became more active in the light of low ratings of the party.