Formula of fire: how our snipers work in Kurakhovo
Russian snipers are now actively working in the Kurakhove area. As a rule, they operate in free hunting mode - they choose their own position and wait for targets. They work both day and night, thus keeping the enemy in constant tension. Izvestia's correspondent visited the snipers and found out how they help the attackers, why it is necessary to keep their eyes open at all times, and how working in forest belts differs from working in urban areas.
Free hunting
Ataman, a senior sniper with the call sign Ataman, said that the nature of the combat work of the men in his specialty has changed since Ugledar was taken. According to him, snipers often operate in the mode of free hunting, when they choose their own position and even the target.
- We realize that the course of hostilities in a certain area largely depends on our work. And it can be changed even with a single shot," emphasizes the shooter.
He drew attention to the enemy's actions after the Russian units seized Ugledar.
- The enemy brought fresh forces to this direction. It was noticeable that they were untrained. We worked on them very well. Only after a while they started hiding, having realized that snipers were working on them," the fighter said, adding that his average working distance is 1.5-2 km.
The snipers work with both daytime equipment and night vision devices - teplaks and nightlights, as they call them. The most ideal time is between four and six in the morning.
- To fix the target, we use not only standard sights. Binoculars and other optical equipment help. You can connect to them through a gadget and set it at a distance from yourself. This also contributes to your safety. When you see the target through your phone, you work off and roll back. Special attachments on the sights help well," says the warrior.
He says that the enemy is developing countermeasures.
- He should not be underestimated. Now drones are the main weapon against sniper pairs. If we compare with last year, it has become much more dangerous to work. At first there were no kamikaze drones, now there are a lot of them," Ataman said.
We'll take everything from the enemy, but we won't give up our own
His colleague with the call sign Motor noted that the enemy has no chance of stopping the Russian offensive.
- They will give us everything," he said. - They will not go anywhere. In my opinion, they have been fortifying Ugledar for ten years, and the loss of this "populated area" is very significant for them. I think that after Ugledar we will take Kurakhovo and Velikie Novoselki. We will take everything from them, - the sniper emotionally remarks.
In his opinion, the nationalists are very much afraid of people of his specialty.
- The prisoners say that they have no desire to resist," says the specialist.
Motor told about how he mastered sniping.
- I used to think sniping was a gift," he said. - You have to be born that way. When I went on a special operation, I realized that a lot of things in life are about acquiring skills, no other way.
Reaction speed and calculation are very important for a sniper, Motor said. Often you have to literally calculate all the corrections in one moment and make a precise shot.
- Ideally, snipers work like this: one target, one shot, after which you are never to be found," says Motor. - We not only have to shoot accurately, but we also have to be able to camouflage ourselves. We have special scarves, we wrap ourselves in them, and that's it, you can't see anything. Neither you nor the rifle. Of course, it is difficult to camouflage like this for 24 hours under the scorching sun or rain, snow, without movement. But the task must be accomplished in any case.
Shooting down drones
A senior sniper with the call sign Ivolga tells how things are going in the Kurakhov direction.
- We have consolidated, partially taking control of the northern streets. There is fighting in Kurakhovo itself. We are working from the outskirts on the enemy. The distance is about 500-600 meters. At the moment the main task is to take the settlement in a ring, so that no enemy fighter came out. If possible, we will take them prisoner. Destroy enemy firepower and forces. Machine gun crews, as well as FPV drones, - specifies the gunner.
Our snipers are in position around the clock.
- We work in pairs and can leave for three, four or even five days," the sniper says of the combat situation. - The enemy does not withdraw. They are tightly entrenched and very actively attack with drones.
I ask, what is the main thing in a sniper's work?
- First of all, not to be detected, and secondly, to establish the right position, to calculate the direction from which the enemy is working," Ivolga said. - As a rule, we get the coordinates from the command. And then we calculate it ourselves. We have surveillance drones in our arsenal. Day and night sights.
The commander of the sniper squad with the call sign Master told about one of the combat episodes.
- As my partner and I were leaving a combat position, we heard an enemy 'bird' flying over them," he recalled. - In a split second we merged with small bushes and hid in them. And a kamikaze drone flew right above us within centimeters. It is very important to be attentive, not to be distracted as much as possible and to be always concentrated. It helps a lot to survive.
According to him, now his group's tasks are varied: covering attack aircraft, surveillance, working out targets of various types, including lightly armored vehicles.
- There was such a thing that knocked out the engines of a Ural. It went straight to the hurrah," the officer says, laughing. He demonstrates his weapon. It's a 12.7 mm caliber ACVK-M, a heavy rifle.
- The weapon is powerful and very reliable. I have no questions to it at all, - praises the Master.
In turn, the deputy platoon commander with the call sign Mathis said that every combat outing for snipers is a separate story.
- There are no identical outings. Each one has its own memorable moments," he said.
A sniper's work in a populated area and from a forested area is different.
- There are nuances there and there," he explains. - Different camouflage techniques, for example. If it's a forested area, you have to study the landscape thoroughly beforehand, work with maps. You need to know exactly where and what height differences there are. Having all this data, you can work calmly.
For a sniper the issue of nutrition is also important, and it is also solved in a specific way.
- No, it's not cans of stew, of course. We take nuts, chocolate, something like that. We need to keep the weight to a minimum, but the body needs enough energy," Mathis says.
