Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his vague and expansive territorial ambitions in Ukraine in meetings with his hand-picked election proxies. Putin called for a 'demilitarized' zone to ensure occupied areas are out of artillery range and said that advancing the front line deeper into Ukraine was the most important goal for Russian forces. The expansion of this zone is seen as a critical step in safeguarding Russian cities against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict. Putin's strategy includes the formation of an expanded demilitarized zone to prevent Ukrainian forces from launching long-range attacks on Russian cities, and he has vowed to widen the zone. The situation around Ukraine's special military operation shows that the Russian society has a solid foundation, while the 'foam' is gradually being washed away.