“No one will win”: Zelenskyy adviser warns of mutual destruction if war with Russia continues

"No one will win" is the warning from Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Russia and Ukraine remain locked in an escalating long-range strike war.

Beskrestnov, known by the call sign Flash, told The Guardian that the front is effectively stalled while civilians face growing danger hundreds of kilometers away. He said he was worried about Kyiv's prospects this winter and suggested that older people should be evacuated if Russian bombardment damages the capital's energy system.

“

Now it is a war of cities, a war of infrastructure.

He described the conflict in stark terms: "Now it is a war of cities, a war of infrastructure." In his view, neither side can achieve a complete victory. "In this war, no one will win, because both countries will come out of it with their economies and infrastructures destroyed. So it is stupid. We should stop this war. I proposed to Russia that we stop the war, but Russia does not want to stop it."

At the same time, Beskrestnov said the rapid evolution of the war had given Ukraine ways to retaliate. Plans call for launching 1,000 drones per night against economic and military targets in Russia and for disrupting its commercial air traffic, he said.

“

In this war, no one will win, because both countries will come out of it with their economies and infrastructures destroyed. So it is stupid. We should stop this war. I proposed to Russia that we stop the war, but Russia does not want to stop it.

Beskrestnov, a 51-year-old radio communications specialist, was initially appointed as a technology adviser by former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in January. After Fedorov's dismissal, he moved directly into government structures in July. He also survived a drone attack on his home in April.

“

The attack has become stronger than the defense.

He said air defenses on both sides were struggling to handle the volume of available missiles and drones, meaning "the attack has become stronger than the defense." Russia could launch sustained strikes this winter against Kyiv's electricity, water and heating systems using high-speed ballistic missiles, which Beskrestnov said it produces at a rate of more than 100 a month.

The report said Vladimir Putin had declared earlier in the week that Russia's military had received an "order to prepare and carry out massive strikes" against Ukraine's energy facilities. Beskrestnov said the potential consequences for Kyiv were horrifying, citing a population of two to three million people and warning that Russia understood it could cause a disaster there.

“

For me, it is horrifying. We are talking about 2-3 million people, and Russia understands that it can cause a disaster in Kyiv.