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Well, we may have to add to the record books as a Ukrainian sniper reportedly set a new world record for the longest sniper kill in history, eliminating a Russian soldier from a staggering distance of 2.3 miles (3.6 kilometers).
This feat surpasses the previous record of a 2.2-mile shot by a Canadian Special Operations sniper in Iraq in 2017.
Utilizing the “Lord of the Horizon” rifle, the Ukrainian sniper fired a .50 caliber bullet that took just under 10 seconds to travel the record-breaking distance.
The man behind the gun is Vyacheslav Kovalskiy, a 58-year-old ex-businessman.
Kovalskiy spoke to the Wall Street Journal last month about the kill.
“I was thinking that Russians would now know that is what Ukrainians are capable of,” he said in the exclusive interview. “Let them sit at home and be afraid.”
While the footage of this unprecedented shot has gone viral, sparking widespread attention, there remains a degree of skepticism among some observers.
Nichols Irving, a former sniper with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion who took out 33 enemy combatants in a single deployment in Afghanistan, weighed in on the plausibility of this claim in an interview with News Nation.
While expressing initial skepticism, Irving acknowledged the technical possibility of such a shot, given the rifle’s specifications and the ballistic performance of the .50-cal projectile.
SEE ALSO: Modern Day Sniper School – 10 Things I Learned
However, Irving said the conditions would have to be “near-perfect.”
With respect to the conditions, Kovalskiy told the WSJ that after firing a test shot with the aid of a spotter, he had to readjust to account for the wind.
“You have to [shoot] immediately because the wind changes constantly,” he said.
The discussion between Irving and News Nation also delved into the broader context of modern warfare, contrasting the high-tech nature of contemporary conflicts with the enduring relevance of ground troops and traditional skills like sniping.
Despite the advancements in military technology, including artillery, airstrikes, drones, and missiles, the effectiveness of a skilled sniper with a reliable rifle remain undeniable in warfare.
With that said, what are your thoughts? Do you believe Kovalskiy set a new world record?
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The round sitting on the table next to the rifle is not a .50 BMG round nor does it look like a Russian 12.7mm. Maybe a 14.5mm or a casing from one necked down to 12.7mm.
Saying this is factual is like saying Joe Biden is a good and honest man.
If fact; great shot!
If fiction; good story.
Be afraidski, komrad. Be very afraidski.
Something doesn’t add up, or my math skills are terrible, but 2.3 miles in 10 seconds is roughly 1000fps. That’s almost subsonic. Shouldn’t a 50 BMG be around 3400 at the muzzle? At 12,400ft (2.3miles) that 50cal round should still be supersonic. Am I missing something?
There’s always the possibility he hit A target, but not necessarily THE target. If you shoot into a crowd and hit someone, are you a good shot?
Looks like a plumber’s nightmare. But with 50 Cal it doesn’t have to be a direct hit.
Wonder who paid for that.
PS I wouldn’t believe anything that comes out of Ukraine either.
He certainly has a target rich environment and gets plenty of chances. Bottom line though is another one bites the dust.
There have been so many huge technical advances made in bullets, powders, barrel making, CNC machining, etc. that helps accomplish these feats that were totally unheard of in the not too distant past. That is one hellva shot!!!!
I dont believe anything coming from Ukraine