A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the continuing war with Russia could lead to widespread destruction on both sides, saying neither country is likely to emerge as a clear winner if the conflict continues.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defence technology adviser better known by his call sign, Flash, said Russia and Ukraine were increasingly fighting a “war of cities” in which long-range missiles and drones are putting civilians and critical infrastructure at greater risk.
“In this war, nobody will win,” Beskrestnov said, arguing that both countries could eventually face severely damaged economies and infrastructure. He called for an end to the conflict but said Russia had so far shown no willingness to stop fighting.
Beskrestnov also expressed concern about the coming winter in Kyiv. He warned that sustained Russian attacks on electricity, water and heating systems could create a serious humanitarian crisis in the Ukrainian capital, potentially affecting millions of people. He suggested that authorities should consider evacuating vulnerable residents, particularly elderly people, if the city’s energy infrastructure comes under prolonged attack.
Ukraine is also preparing to increase its long-range strikes against targets inside Russia. Beskrestnov said Ukraine currently launches hundreds of drones a day and has a goal of eventually reaching about 1,000 daily attacks. Ukrainian authorities have increasingly used drones to target military facilities, factories, warehouses and oil infrastructure.
The adviser said Russia’s growing use of advanced drones and missiles was another major concern. He pointed to the development of faster, jet-powered Shahed drones and the possible use of artificial intelligence to make some weapons less vulnerable to electronic warfare.
Ukraine is particularly dependent on Western air-defence systems to protect its cities from ballistic missiles. Beskrestnov said the country remains short of Patriot interceptors and expressed uncertainty over whether enough could be secured before winter.
The warning comes as civilian casualties continue to rise amid intensified long-range attacks. According to United Nations figures cited in the report, hundreds of civilians were killed and thousands injured in Ukraine in July.
With both sides expanding their ability to strike deeper into each other’s territory, Beskrestnov’s warning highlights the growing risks of a prolonged conflict in which military escalation could increasingly come at the expense of civilians and vital infrastructure.
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