Kiev Accuses Moscow of Launching New Offensive to Create Buffer Zone

Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv [Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via AFP]  
Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv [Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via AFP]  
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Kiev Accuses Moscow of Launching New Offensive to Create Buffer Zone

Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv [Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via AFP]  
Firefighters work at a site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv [Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via AFP]  

Kiev on Wednesday accused Moscow of launching an offensive into northeastern Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions several days ago where it plans to create a buffer zone.

Ukraine’s commander in chief General Oleksandr Syrsky said in an interview with the LB.ua media outlet that, “For several days now, nearly a week, we’ve been seeing almost a doubling of the number of enemy offensive actions in all major areas.”

President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly proposed establishing a so-called “buffer zone” in the Sumy region.

According to Syrsky, Ukraine must mobilize 30,000 soldiers every month, a figure previously named by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“This is, indeed, the figure that we must abide with,” Syrsky said.

He added that despite its ongoing defeats, Russia has increased its force in Ukraine. “Every month, they increase it by 8,000-9,000; in a year, it's 120,000-130,000,” the Ukrainian General said.

Russia and Ukraine launched fresh drone attacks on each other overnight, resulting in injuries and damage across multiple regions, according to officials on both sides.

Ukrainian authorities reported strikes in several areas. In the city of Dnipro, 15 people were injured and 15 private homes, along with several multi-storey residential and commercial buildings, were damaged, said regional Governor Serhiy Lysak.

In the eastern Donetsk region, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported five people injured by Russian attacks in various communities.

In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, two people were wounded following what local prosecutors described as a large-scale drone attack. Fires broke out and damage was reported to shops and residential buildings.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said on Telegram that it shot down 32 out of 55 drones launched by Russia overnight, and that another eight did not reach their targets, most likely because of electronic countermeasures.

“Eight enemy drone imitators have been lost (without negative consequences). Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions suffered as a result of the Russian attack,” the Telegram message said.

Russia’s military Wednesday said that its air defense systems destroyed 158 Ukrainian drones across 13 regions and the Black Sea overnight.

In a separate development, Zelensky said his forces had captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine.

Asked about the claims in a daily press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.

Writing on X on Tuesday, where he posted a video of one of the alleged men, Zelenskiy said Kyiv had “information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens” fighting. He did not say whether Ukraine believed the men were acting on Beijing's orders.

China's Foreign Ministry objected to Zelenskiy's remarks that more Chinese citizens were at the frontline alongside Russians, calling them “groundless.”

“Ukraine should correctly view China's efforts and constructive role in seeking a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis,” ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

China was verifying the situation with Ukraine, he said, adding that its government had always required its citizens to avoid areas of armed conflict and “especially to avoid participating in the military operations of any party.”

The case was the first publicly announced instance of Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine since the conflict started three years ago.



Iran Hangs Three More Accused of Spying for Israel

The life of Ahmadreza Djalali is at imminent risk, he wife said - AFP
The life of Ahmadreza Djalali is at imminent risk, he wife said - AFP
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Iran Hangs Three More Accused of Spying for Israel

The life of Ahmadreza Djalali is at imminent risk, he wife said - AFP
The life of Ahmadreza Djalali is at imminent risk, he wife said - AFP

Iran on Wednesday hanged three men convicted of spying for Israel after what activists decried as an unfair trial, bringing to six the number of people executed on such charges since the start of the war between the Islamic republic and Israel.

The hangings have also amplified fears for the life of Swedish-Iranian dual national Ahmadreza Djalali who has been on death row for seven-and-a-half years after being convicted of spying for Israel which his family vehemently denies.

The executions also bring to nine the number of people executed by Iran on espionage charges since the start of 2025, with activists accusing Tehran of using capital punishment as a means to instil fear in society.

Idris Ali, Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul and Azad Shojai were executed earlier Wednesday in the northwestern city of Urmia, the judiciary said, the day after a truce between the Islamic republic and Israel came into effect, AFP reported.

They had "attempted to import equipment into the country to carry out assassinations," it added.

Iran had executed three other men accused of spying for Israel since the start of the conflict on June 13, in separate hangings on June 16, June 22 and June 23.

"The Islamic Republic sentenced Idris Ali, Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, and Azad Shojai to death without a fair trial and based on confessions obtained under torture, accusing them of espionage," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), told AFP.

He said Ali and Shojai were two border porters -- known locally as kolbar -- who carry goods over the border.

"They were arrested on charges of smuggling alcoholic beverages but were forced to confess to espionage for Israel," he said. Ali and Shojai were members of Iran's Kurdish minority while Rasoul, while also Kurdish, was an Iraqi national.

- 'Imminent risk' -

He warned that in the coming weeks the lives of "hundreds" more prisoners sentenced to death were at risk. "After the ceasefire with Israel, the Islamic republic needs more repression to cover up military failures, prevent protests, and ensure its continued survival."

Djalali was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to death in October 2017 on charges of spying following what Amnesty International has termed "a grossly unfair trial" based on "'forced confessions' made under torture and other ill-treatment."

Long held in Tehran's Evin prison, which was hit by an Israeli strike on Monday before the truce, he has now been transferred to an unknown location, raising fears that his execution could be imminent, his family and government said.

"He called me and said, 'They're going to transfer me.' I asked where, and he said, 'I don't know,'" his wife Vida Mehrannia told AFP.

"Is it because they want to carry out the sentence? Or for some other reason? I don't know," she said, adding that she was "very worried" following the latest executions.

The Swedish foreign ministry said it had received information that he has been moved to an "unknown location" and warned there would be "serious consequences" for Sweden's relationship with Iran were he to be executed.

Amnesty International said Tuesday it was "gravely concerned" that he "is at imminent risk of execution".

- 'Grossly unfair trials' -

Rights groups say defendants in espionage cases are often convicted under vaguely-worded charges which are capital crimes under Iran's sharia law including "enmity against god" and "corruption on earth".

Analysts say that Israel's intelligence service Mossad has deeply penetrated Iran, as shown by its ability to locate and kill key members of the Iranian security forces in the conflict. But rights groups say that those executed are used as scapegoats to make up for Iran's failure to catch the actual spies.

Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei had ordered swift trials against people suspected of collaborating with Israel with rights groups saying dozens of people have been arrested since the conflict started.

"A rush to execute people after torture-tainted 'confessions' and grossly unfair trials would be a horrifying abuse of power and a blatant assault on the right to life," said Hussein Baoumi, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

According to IHR, Iran has executed 594 people on all charges this year alone.