Longest Sniper Shot Ever: 58-Year-Old Ukrainian Man Hits Russian Soldier from 3.8km Away

Ukrainian Businessman-turned-sniper Sets New World Record

A sniper from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has become the talk of the town after reportedly assassinating a Russian soldier from a distance of 3.8 kilometers (2.36 miles). The sniper claimed to have killed a Russian military officer from this distance on the frontline at an undisclosed location on November 18th. A video of the event captured a soldier being shot and falling, drawing worldwide attention.

The Wall Street Journal recently interviewed Ukrainian sniper Vyacheslav Kovalskiy, who set a new world record for the longest kill shot. Kovalskiy, a businessman and champion of European shooting competition, is surprisingly 58 years old.

In the interview, Kovalskiy provided a detailed account of the sniper operation. Working with a spotter, they focused on identifying a high-value target. Initially, they observed Russian soldiers engaged in cutting down trees but chose not to engage due to their low rank. However, the situation changed when they spotted a group of soldiers, among whom was an individual who seemed to be an officer issuing commands. This sighting prompted Kovalskiy and his spotter to commence their sniper operation.

First, the spotter used a laser to measure the distance. They used specialized software and weather data to account for wind, humidity, temperature, and gravity and analyze the precise trajectory of the bullet. The 6.2-inch bullet they fired reportedly flew 3.8 kilometers (2.36 miles) and hit the target.

Kovalskiy remarked on the challenges faced due to the shifting wind, which necessitated constant adjustments until they successfully hit the target. He then confidently asserted that this demonstration of skill would instill fear in the Russians regarding the capabilities of the Ukrainians.

World Record and Expert Opinions

According to reports, the current world record for the longest kill distance is 3540m (2.2 miles), set by a Canadian Special Forces sniper in Iraq in 2017 when he shot a Jihadist. However, if SBU and Kovalskiy’s claims are accurate, this would extend the record by 260 meters (0.16 miles), setting a new world record for the longest kill shot.

There are divided opinions on this. American ballistics expert Brad Milad analyzed the video and concluded that while the recording itself is possible, the number of variables makes it unlikely that the bullet target killed it. A former US Marine Corps sniper instructor, Steve Walsh, said, “In traditional sniping, there are too many variables that are difficult to quantify, so any shot over 1300m (0.8 miles) is more likely to be down to luck than skill.”

The gun used in this sniper operation was the Horizon Lord, manufactured in Ukraine, and its known effective range is 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles).

Global Attention on Ukrainian Snipers

Ukraine appears to be turning into a graveyard for Russian generals. So far, enemy forces have killed four Russian generals, including Andrei Sukhovetsky, the commander of the 7th Airborne Division and the deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army. President Vladimir Putin of Russia confirmed Sukhovetsky’s death in a speech explaining the situation in Ukraine.

Notably, The Independent, a British newspaper, reported that a Ukrainian sniper killed him, highlighting the global focus on the role of snipers in the conflict. The term sniper originates from the bird “snipe,” which is small, fast, and hard to find due to its camouflage. If you shoot this bird with a gun, people will recognize you as a marksman.

For a sniper, a one-shot, one-kill accuracy rate is a given. They must infiltrate deep into enemy lines undetected and patiently wait for their target to appear. They must be smart enough to accurately analyze wind and weather information that affects ballistics and, above all, have the carafe after completing their mission. You could say that snipers are supermen.

This way, snipers can target high-value targets like commanders, throwing the enemy’s command structure into chaos. Even if they don’t hit a commander, killing just one person can stop or slow down enemy troop movements, contributing to the neutralization of combat power.

Korean Military Sniper Training

Hee Beom Hong, the editor-in-chief of the military specialist monthly magazine Platoon, explained, “After the Crimean Peninsula incident in 2014, Ukraine focused on training snipers, primarily in special forces units.”

What about the Korean military? Our military is currently mass-producing the K14 sniper rifle. The Army operates two snipers per battalion. Editor-in-chief Hong said, “Korea needs to introduce a professional and systematic sniper training process like the U.S. sniper course,” and added, “Like the U.S. Army, we should give sniper-level guns and equipment to people with good shooting skills and create a Designated Marksman (DS) at the level of one per squad.”

Noteworthy Records in Sniper History

The third-longest kill distance record also came from the Ukrainian military. There are claims that a Ukrainian sniper successfully shot a Russian soldier from a distance exceeding 2700m (1.67 miles).

The next record, in fourth place, is held by British Craig Harrison, who shot two Taliban fighters from a distance of 2475m (1.53 miles) during a battle in Afghanistan in 2009.

At the time, some who saw the video showed skeptical reactions, doubting that the sniper distance was as much as 2410m (1.49 miles). They pointed out that the time difference between the gun firing and the Russian soldier falling was too short.

By. Lee Hyun Ho