Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES)
Russia may stop distinguishing between large and small targets and instead systematically attack all civilian infrastructure within roughly 100 kilometers of the front line, according to Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister on military technologies.
Writing on Telegram, Beskrestnov said the war has entered a new phase of long-range and medium-range strikes, with both sides seeking to strengthen their positions ahead of any potential peace negotiations.
"The closer we get to possible peace talks, the more both sides are preparing the ground for them," he wrote.
According to Beskrestnov, Ukraine is in a relatively stronger position because Russia has a larger number of critical facilities that support its war effort and cannot fully protect them. However, he warned that Ukraine remains more vulnerable because Russian forces are increasingly attacking civilian infrastructure without regard for the type of target.
He predicted that Russian strikes could expand to include gas stations, postal facilities, warehouses, industrial sites, construction and agricultural equipment depots, railway infrastructure, roads, and electrical substations of all sizes.
Beskrestnov argued that Ukraine seeks to use long-range strikes to pressure Russia into ending the war, while Moscow appears willing to continue broad attacks despite the damage inflicted on its own territory.
At the same time, he said Ukraine has sufficient resources and capabilities to continue targeting military and strategic facilities inside Russia.
His comments come after Russian forces intensified strikes on gas stations in frontline regions of Ukraine following disruptions to land supply routes leading to occupied Crimea.
