Kremlin Spox-Long Range Missiles Mean Larger 'Buffer Zone'

Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov, when asked about the prospect of the US supplying more long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine following the passage in the US Senate of a USD95bn defence supplemental, claims that "The longer the range of western weapons supplied, the further Russia will have to move the border of the buffer zone." This would imply Russia's intention to continue its slow but relatively steady military advance in areas of eastern Ukraine in order to maximise the distance between areas controlled by Kyiv and Russia-proper.

• Long-range missiles, as well as drone attacks, have caused significant disruption to Russian oil refineries and other areas within the hydrocarbons and military sectors as Kyiv has turned some of its focus to hitting deep within Russian territroy in an effort to disrupt Moscow's war machine.
• Talking up Russia's military prospects comes amid the arrest and detention of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov on 23 April on charges of recieving a bribe. Ivanov has been detained for two months according to state-run Interfax.
• Ivanov is seen as close ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and the former's arrest - the highest-profile corruption charge since the invasion of Ukraine - could be seen as an attempt to consolidate power by President Vladimir Putin post-election, or to placate a public increasingly resentful of percieved corruption at the top of the military when Russian casualties on the front line are so high.