A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Markov, said that a new civil war in the United States would be "good for the world." On Saturday, Julia Davis, founder of the Russian Media Monitor watchdog group, shared a clip to X, from a recent state-run media broadcast in Russia. The pro-Kremlin political scientist and former adviser to the Russian leader, Sergei Markov, implied in the clip that the onset of a civil war in the United States would be advantageous for Russia. He further suggested that such a development could potentially bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine as well.

Sergei Markov said that the Russian symbol for the new year is the "Wooden Dragon", according to the Chinese horoscope, adding, "I think that means there will be a civil war in America. I think it makes sense... Yes, the dragon will get them, that's good for the world." Markov also referred to messages such as those that Russia "does not want war with anyone, not even the Americans".

"No, we want it. We know that if something really starts in America, the war in Ukraine will end a week later. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny will rush over here... They would go to the mediators and say, 'Let's put an end to all this right now.' "Because this regime is a typical junta, I would say, a colonial junta. We want peace for ourselves in the new year, and for those who live in Ukraine to get rid of this colonial junta that America imposed on them," said Markov.

These remarks coincide with a surge in deadly strikes targeting residential buildings in Ukraine and a Russian border region, marking an escalation in aerial attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to intensify strikes in response to an unprecedented Ukrainian attack on Belgorod while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “The enemy has planned their trajectories to cause as much damage as possible. This is an utterly premeditated terror.”

Since December 29, Russia has initiated a barrage of nearly 300 missiles and over 200 drones against Ukraine, according to reports. Meanwhile, in a retaliatory move, a recent Ukrainian strike on Russia's Belgorod region resulted in at least one fatality and five injuries, as reported by the local governor, citing news agency AFP.

Image source: AFP