KYIV Aug 29, 2026 – Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa told journalists on August 29 that Ukrainian intelligence, verified through multiple sources, indicates Russia’s political leadership has tasked the military with planning several possible scenarios for operations in those directions.
“We did indeed receive information from intelligence agencies—verified by multiple sources—that the military leadership of the Russian Armed Forces had been tasked by the political leadership with planning such an operation, with several possible scenarios, in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv,” Palisa said.
He drew a clear distinction between planning and imminent action. “Please note: to plan and prepare. … At the moment, we do not see the formation of an offensive grouping in these directions,” he added. Ukraine’s General Staff has already prepared response, defense, and counteraction options. Palisa said Kyiv’s priority is to prevent the conditions that would allow Russia to launch any offensive at all.
The statement comes more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russian forces tried and failed to seize Kyiv in the opening weeks of 2022, advancing from Belarus and through Chernihiv Oblast before withdrawing. Chernihiv Oblast borders both Russia and Belarus; Kyiv Oblast borders Belarus.
Palisa also said Russia has not abandoned plans for a so-called buffer zone in Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, and partially in Chernihiv Oblast to a depth of up to 20 kilometers, with possible further expansion. He linked any expansion to the growing range and capabilities of drones.
The comments echo warnings from Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi in late June 2026. Syrskyi said the most realistic northern scenario was an operation from Russia’s Bryansk Oblast into Chernihiv Oblast, intended to seize territory, stretch Ukrainian forces, and pull reserves away from the east and south rather than a direct drive on the capital. He judged an attack staged from Belarus less likely.
There has been no public confirmation from Moscow of new northern offensive planning. Fighting continues along the existing front, with Russian forces pressing in the east and south while conducting regular long-range drone and missile strikes, including recent attacks that hit areas near Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said they are reinforcing the northern border and developing contingencies. Palisa’s remarks underscore that Kyiv treats the planning reports as serious enough to warrant public disclosure and military preparation, while stressing that no large-scale Russian force concentration for a new northern push has been observed.
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