Donbass Snipers
The beginning of the conflict in 2014 year sniper formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine met mainly with Dragunov's sniper rifles (SVD) of the model 1963 of the year. Such weapons, of course, did not allow to work effectively with remote targets, but it was quite suitable for fighting in urban areas. In Ukraine, the sniper school has never been a priority - in the army to high-precision arms treated with coolness, the main users were special forces of the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as the 8 and 3 regiments of the special mission of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
It was the shooter of the 3 Special Forces Regiment that made the first recorded effective shot from the 25 sniper rifle in May 2014, near Donetsk airport. In fairness it is worth mentioning that in the hands of these specialists were also very few Western sniper weapons, purchased before the coup. In addition, the internal troops of Ukraine had in their arsenal of semi-automatic rifles "Fort-301" produced by Vinnitsa enterprise "Fort". This weapon is designed for NATO patron 7,62х51 mm and is a copy of the Israeli sniper rifle "Galil Sniper", which is made on the basis of the Galil machine gun, and he, in turn, borrowed the design of the Soviet AK. "Fort-301" is not a weapon for positional sniper warfare and is intended primarily for tactical support units at small and medium distances combat. Ukrainian-Israeli rifles fully transferred to the new structure - the National Guard.
Ukrainian-Israeli "Fort-301"
The development of hostilities in the Donbas required for snipers new weapons - long-range and with increased action on the target. In Ukraine, since the end of 2014, the famous American Barret M82 in the M82A1 / A1M and M82A3 versions have become such. Ukrainians were familiar with such weapons since the 2010 year, when the Americans were purchased several copies of such weapons. The powerful cartridge of the caliber 12,7 mm allowed to get militia fighters at distances to 1800 meters, which somewhat changed the tactics of the “antiterrorist operation”. Ukrainians got a taste and started mass-producing snipers, not only for special forces, but also for combat troops.
Ukrainian snipers and their Barret M82.
The deliveries to the Russian Orsis T-5000 rifles, which can already be attributed to precision weapons with a target range of up to 1650 meters, have become a certain reciprocal step. The weapon is designed for .338 Lapua Magnum (8,6-mm), .300 Winchester Magnum and .308 Winchester (7,62 mm) cartridges. The most promoted user of T5000 in the DPR was the Serbian Dejan “Deki” Beric, who was awarded a serious reward in Ukraine. It was he who in one of the numerous interviews said: “After the appearance of good thermal imagers on the Ukrainian side, it is no longer possible to lie for a few hours, as before, and to build a reliable position, despite the camouflage.” Ukraine is actively equipped with high-class military equipment, which allows to conduct military operations at any time of day and in any weather, as well as to conduct effective anti-sniper work.
Dejan "Decks" Berich and his Orsis T5000
Even taking into account the sea of lies and propaganda that flows from the Ukrainian media, it can be noted that sniper training and tactics of using in the Ukrainian Armed Forces has become one of the most progressive areas of development. They adopt experience from numerous mercenaries fighting on the side of official Kiev, as well as on the retraining bases of specialists from NATO countries. They come to shoot people and copies of the Baltic school of snipers from Lithuania, who are distinguished by their special professionalism and cynicism. According to the stories of the fighter with the call sign Hedgehog (from the book “War in Donbass. Weapons and Tactics” by A. B. Shirokorada), in the Baltic States since Soviet times an excellent training base of biathletes with strong instructors has been created, who due to lack of work have adapted to the training snipers. In the Donbas, Lithuanian female snipers are called Baltic witches for their distinctive style of shooting the limbs and causing unnecessary suffering to the victims. True, such data should always be treated with a fair amount of skepticism. The high level of training of snipers on the side of Ukraine is evidenced by the fact of the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko (now deceased) on January 30 of 2015 in Uglegorsk. Later, responsibility for the unsuccessful attempt, as a result of which security guard Zakharchenko died, was taken over by the Shadow guerrilla unit.
Lobaev Arms DXL-4 "SEVASTOPOL" - an expensive and high-class weapon that is allegedly used by LDNR snipers
A variety of sniper weapons on both sides of the front is the hallmark of this conflict - in LDNR they are fighting modernized SVD, 12,7-mm long-range ASVK and Lobaev Arms DXL-4 "SEVASTOPOL". The latter, according to the author of weapons Nikolai Lobayev, allows you to work on targets at distances up to 2800 meters. However, the information on DXL-4 is still tentative in nature and is based only on indirect data from the Ukrainian side. According to Lobaev himself, only experienced professionals can fully use such a serious technique in combat, there are few simple skills of an army sniper here. Also, specialists from Ukraine point to the alleged use of the Pulsar night sights, the Vintorez silent rifles (9-mm) and the large-caliber Exhaust (12,7-mm) riflesmen.
GOPAK at the presentation
Ukrainian industry also has something to put up against the imaginary Russian sniper threat. So, meet - the rifle "GOPAK" caliber 7,62 mm, first presented at the XII International Specialized Exhibition "Arms and Security" in Kiev. The name does not refer to the famous Ukrainian dance, but is an abbreviation of “Gvintivka operative portable on the AKi base”, which, in fact, fully reveals the idea of weapons. This is a clear analogue of the Russian silent "Vintorez", only unfavorably differs from it with a smaller caliber and the lack of automatic reloading, which was removed in order to reduce noise.
VPR-308
On the basis of Konstantin Konev's Zbroyar Z-008 sporting rifle in Ukraine, they created a more serious sniper weapon under the symbol VPR-308, chambered for 7,62х51 (.308 Winchester). The VPR-338 version uses the more powerful .338 Lapua Magnum 8,6 caliber mm. Tests were held in the 1-th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in July 2014, but only two years later they went into a series for the units involved in the ATO. As you can see, the VPR series is the Ukrainian equivalent of the Russian T5000 and performs similar tasks on the battlefield. And what about large-caliber long-range cars? Or Ukraine will use the US technique?
Snipex .50 BMG “Rhino Hunter” Brochure
Snipex .50 BMG "Rhino Hunter" is, according to the developers, a fully Ukrainian development with a longitudinal sliding gate and using the "NATO" cartridge 12,7X99 mm (.50 BMG). Such a heavy rifle (up to 16 kg) from the company XADO is able to reach people and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 2500 meters. The first copies of the large-caliber Snipex .50 appeared in October 2016. Reply so much powerful weapons in the troops LDNR also have what - 12,7-mm rifle with the affectionate name "Dovchanka" assembled on their own using the barrels of machine guns "Rock". Fragmentary data on weapons allows us to talk about the development in LDNR production of its own barrels with acceptable tolerances on the accuracy of manufacturing.
"Dovchanka" militia
The tactics and technique of snipers on both sides of the front are not diverse and are carried out in full accordance with the best training manuals. The shooters are paired with observers at a distance from the target of the order of 400-500 meters, located mainly on elevations. Often, snipers additionally equip a group of 5-7 fighters employed on the gunner’s guard and provoking fire from the enemy. Usually for provocations use fire from small arms, grenade launchers, as well as towering mannequins. To hunt enemy shooters in a positional war and "truce" used snipers, performing the role of bait. In the context of a war of maneuver, the suppression of sniper lodging usually does not spare any resources - according to the intended purpose, everything works, up to the MLRS and 152-mm artillery.
It was the shooter of the 3 Special Forces Regiment that made the first recorded effective shot from the 25 sniper rifle in May 2014, near Donetsk airport. In fairness it is worth mentioning that in the hands of these specialists were also very few Western sniper weapons, purchased before the coup. In addition, the internal troops of Ukraine had in their arsenal of semi-automatic rifles "Fort-301" produced by Vinnitsa enterprise "Fort". This weapon is designed for NATO patron 7,62х51 mm and is a copy of the Israeli sniper rifle "Galil Sniper", which is made on the basis of the Galil machine gun, and he, in turn, borrowed the design of the Soviet AK. "Fort-301" is not a weapon for positional sniper warfare and is intended primarily for tactical support units at small and medium distances combat. Ukrainian-Israeli rifles fully transferred to the new structure - the National Guard.
Ukrainian-Israeli "Fort-301"
The development of hostilities in the Donbas required for snipers new weapons - long-range and with increased action on the target. In Ukraine, since the end of 2014, the famous American Barret M82 in the M82A1 / A1M and M82A3 versions have become such. Ukrainians were familiar with such weapons since the 2010 year, when the Americans were purchased several copies of such weapons. The powerful cartridge of the caliber 12,7 mm allowed to get militia fighters at distances to 1800 meters, which somewhat changed the tactics of the “antiterrorist operation”. Ukrainians got a taste and started mass-producing snipers, not only for special forces, but also for combat troops.
Ukrainian snipers and their Barret M82.
The deliveries to the Russian Orsis T-5000 rifles, which can already be attributed to precision weapons with a target range of up to 1650 meters, have become a certain reciprocal step. The weapon is designed for .338 Lapua Magnum (8,6-mm), .300 Winchester Magnum and .308 Winchester (7,62 mm) cartridges. The most promoted user of T5000 in the DPR was the Serbian Dejan “Deki” Beric, who was awarded a serious reward in Ukraine. It was he who in one of the numerous interviews said: “After the appearance of good thermal imagers on the Ukrainian side, it is no longer possible to lie for a few hours, as before, and to build a reliable position, despite the camouflage.” Ukraine is actively equipped with high-class military equipment, which allows to conduct military operations at any time of day and in any weather, as well as to conduct effective anti-sniper work.
Dejan "Decks" Berich and his Orsis T5000
Even taking into account the sea of lies and propaganda that flows from the Ukrainian media, it can be noted that sniper training and tactics of using in the Ukrainian Armed Forces has become one of the most progressive areas of development. They adopt experience from numerous mercenaries fighting on the side of official Kiev, as well as on the retraining bases of specialists from NATO countries. They come to shoot people and copies of the Baltic school of snipers from Lithuania, who are distinguished by their special professionalism and cynicism. According to the stories of the fighter with the call sign Hedgehog (from the book “War in Donbass. Weapons and Tactics” by A. B. Shirokorada), in the Baltic States since Soviet times an excellent training base of biathletes with strong instructors has been created, who due to lack of work have adapted to the training snipers. In the Donbas, Lithuanian female snipers are called Baltic witches for their distinctive style of shooting the limbs and causing unnecessary suffering to the victims. True, such data should always be treated with a fair amount of skepticism. The high level of training of snipers on the side of Ukraine is evidenced by the fact of the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko (now deceased) on January 30 of 2015 in Uglegorsk. Later, responsibility for the unsuccessful attempt, as a result of which security guard Zakharchenko died, was taken over by the Shadow guerrilla unit.
Lobaev Arms DXL-4 "SEVASTOPOL" - an expensive and high-class weapon that is allegedly used by LDNR snipers
A variety of sniper weapons on both sides of the front is the hallmark of this conflict - in LDNR they are fighting modernized SVD, 12,7-mm long-range ASVK and Lobaev Arms DXL-4 "SEVASTOPOL". The latter, according to the author of weapons Nikolai Lobayev, allows you to work on targets at distances up to 2800 meters. However, the information on DXL-4 is still tentative in nature and is based only on indirect data from the Ukrainian side. According to Lobaev himself, only experienced professionals can fully use such a serious technique in combat, there are few simple skills of an army sniper here. Also, specialists from Ukraine point to the alleged use of the Pulsar night sights, the Vintorez silent rifles (9-mm) and the large-caliber Exhaust (12,7-mm) riflesmen.
GOPAK at the presentation
Ukrainian industry also has something to put up against the imaginary Russian sniper threat. So, meet - the rifle "GOPAK" caliber 7,62 mm, first presented at the XII International Specialized Exhibition "Arms and Security" in Kiev. The name does not refer to the famous Ukrainian dance, but is an abbreviation of “Gvintivka operative portable on the AKi base”, which, in fact, fully reveals the idea of weapons. This is a clear analogue of the Russian silent "Vintorez", only unfavorably differs from it with a smaller caliber and the lack of automatic reloading, which was removed in order to reduce noise.
VPR-308
On the basis of Konstantin Konev's Zbroyar Z-008 sporting rifle in Ukraine, they created a more serious sniper weapon under the symbol VPR-308, chambered for 7,62х51 (.308 Winchester). The VPR-338 version uses the more powerful .338 Lapua Magnum 8,6 caliber mm. Tests were held in the 1-th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in July 2014, but only two years later they went into a series for the units involved in the ATO. As you can see, the VPR series is the Ukrainian equivalent of the Russian T5000 and performs similar tasks on the battlefield. And what about large-caliber long-range cars? Or Ukraine will use the US technique?
Snipex .50 BMG “Rhino Hunter” Brochure
Snipex .50 BMG "Rhino Hunter" is, according to the developers, a fully Ukrainian development with a longitudinal sliding gate and using the "NATO" cartridge 12,7X99 mm (.50 BMG). Such a heavy rifle (up to 16 kg) from the company XADO is able to reach people and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 2500 meters. The first copies of the large-caliber Snipex .50 appeared in October 2016. Reply so much powerful weapons in the troops LDNR also have what - 12,7-mm rifle with the affectionate name "Dovchanka" assembled on their own using the barrels of machine guns "Rock". Fragmentary data on weapons allows us to talk about the development in LDNR production of its own barrels with acceptable tolerances on the accuracy of manufacturing.
"Dovchanka" militia
The tactics and technique of snipers on both sides of the front are not diverse and are carried out in full accordance with the best training manuals. The shooters are paired with observers at a distance from the target of the order of 400-500 meters, located mainly on elevations. Often, snipers additionally equip a group of 5-7 fighters employed on the gunner’s guard and provoking fire from the enemy. Usually for provocations use fire from small arms, grenade launchers, as well as towering mannequins. To hunt enemy shooters in a positional war and "truce" used snipers, performing the role of bait. In the context of a war of maneuver, the suppression of sniper lodging usually does not spare any resources - according to the intended purpose, everything works, up to the MLRS and 152-mm artillery.
Information