In a remarkable display of skill and precision, a Ukrainian sniper has set a new record by killing a Russian officer from an astonishing distance of 2.4 miles away. Vyacheslav Kovalskiy, a 58-year-old ex-businessman turned sniper, delivered a fatal blow to his target with a bullet that traveled more than the length of two Brooklyn Bridges in a mere 9 seconds.
In his first-ever media interview, Kovalskiy expressed his satisfaction in showcasing the capabilities of Ukrainian snipers to their Russian counterparts. “I was thinking that Russians would now know what Ukrainians are capable of,” he said confidently. He intended to instill fear and caution among the enemy forces, urging them to “sit at home and be afraid.”
Kovalskiy, along with his spotter, who both serve in the military counterintelligence division of the Security Service of Ukraine, initially hesitated to shoot at a group of Russian soldiers cutting wood, deeming them of low rank. However, when an officer appeared among the soldiers, they seized the opportunity to neutralize a key figure.
The sniper patiently lay still for hours in freezing temperatures, awaiting the order to take the shot. Once given the green light, Kovalskiy’s spotter utilized laser measurements, specialized software, and meteorological data to factor in variables such as wind, humidity, temperature, and even the curvature of the Earth. The wind alone was projected to divert the bullet’s trajectory by approximately 200 feet.
Following an initial test shot that revealed a miscalculation in wind speed, Kovalskiy reset, reloaded, and discharged his bullet at an astonishing velocity of 960 mph. The 6.2-inch projectile hit its target with lethal precision, surpassing the previous record for the longest kill shot by more than 850 feet.
While acknowledging the challenge of executing such a shot, some experts argue that luck becomes a significant factor beyond specific distances. Steve Walsh, a former US Marine sniper instructor, commented, “In conventional sniping, there are numerous variables that are difficult to quantify, so the reality is that anything beyond 4,265 feet can be more reliant on luck than skill.”
However, Brad Millard, a US ballistics expert, confirmed the accuracy of the 9-second timing of the shot’s trajectory in the video footage. Nevertheless, he questioned Ukraine’s certainty regarding the officer’s demise. Kovalskiy firmly refuted any doubts, citing the size and speed of his bullet, asserting, “There is no chance he survived.”
Kovalskiy, a decorated long-distance shooting champion in Europe and North America, also questioned the international community’s skepticism regarding his deadly shot. He referred to similar shots hitting stationary targets at the NRA’s King of Two Miles contest in New Mexico.
Having joined the ranks of snipers on the first day of Russia’s invasion, Kovalskiy harbors no remorse for eliminating Kremlin fighters. When asked about the morality of his actions, he dismissively stated, “It doesn’t worry me a gram.”
