New sniper record – SBU sniper hits target at 3,800 m

November 19, 2023October 20, 2025

A Security Service of Ukraine sniper, Vyacheslav Kovalsky, set a new sniper record on the front, hitting a target at 3,800 metres. The previous record belonged to a Canadian JTF-2 sniper who, in May 2017, eliminated an enemy in Iraq from a distance of 3,540 metres.

Fighters from the SBU’s military counterintelligence unit established a position on the liberated bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. They equipped the position on the freed riverbank for observation and fire correction, not for assault — this is standard reconnaissance work. The sniper and spotter lay in the freezing cold for hours, watching a group of pidars¹ who were chopping wood at the time. Closer to noon, another group of the Pidars arrived. Kovalsky noticed one of them instructing the others — likely an officer.

That’s when the spotter got to work. He calculated the distance using a laser rangefinder. Then, using specialized software and meteorological data, he concluded that at such a distance, the wind would shift the bullet approximately 60 meters from its trajectory. He also calculated humidity and temperature, which affect the bullet’s flight speed.

The Challenge of Extreme-Range Shooting

Using all these parameters, Kovalskyi fired a test shot 300 meters to the side of the target. However, he missed — they incorrectly accounted for wind speed. Then he made corrections, reloaded the rifle, and fired again. Then he made corrections, reloaded the rifle, and fired again. The bullet needed about 9 seconds to send the Pidar to hell.

This new sniper record represents far more than just marksmanship. It demonstrates the growing sophistication of Ukrainian military operations. Every calculation must be perfect, or the shot fails.

Ukraine’s Solution to Long-Range Precision

The shot was fired from a Ukrainian-made rifle called Horizon’s Lord. Known volunteer Yuriy Chornomorets shared information about the rifle. It was designed and built by a Ukrainian company of the same name, “Horizon’s Lord”.

The rifle comes in various calibers, including the widely used .50 and .338 Lapua Magnum. However, it shows the best results when paired with its own specially designed 12.7×114″HL” cartridge. With this ammunition, the manufacturer claims 0.3 MOA accuracy — an excellent result. The cartridge’s parameters are impressive: Vo~1007 m/s while B.C. stands at 1.09.

If we describe these figures in civilian terms, it looks roughly like this: from a distance of 3,000 meters, such a bullet hits within a circle with a diameter of 26.16 cm. Or, if you prefer imperial measurements — from a distance of just under 2 miles, this bullet hits within a circle with a diameter of 10.5 inches.

From Prototype to Combat Proven

Viacheslav Kovalskyi’s sniper team tested this development in its prototype phase. But they made the record shot with a production model of the rifle. According to Yurii, this is a “brilliant rifle.” Yurii also noted the high professionalism of the sniper pair who executed this shot:

They have a large team, all professionals, and these two are the best!

The rifle’s success in combat conditions proves Ukrainian defense manufacturers work directly with frontline operators, refining designs based on real combat feedback. Ukraine’s domestic arms industry continues to evolve under wartime pressure. This close cooperation produces weapons perfectly suited to Ukraine’s specific battlefield needs.

A Record Born from War

This isn’t a “sporting” record, but a consequence of war. We don’t celebrate death, but we document the fact of the 200th³ occupier. Viacheslav Kovalsky himself and his assistant say they don’t regret eliminating Pidars on the front line.

Every Orc eliminated at such distances means fewer threats to Ukrainian positions. It means one less enemy directing artillery fire, organizing assaults, or terrorizing civilians.

The psychological impact also matters. When enemy commanders know Ukrainian snipers can reach out nearly 4 kilometers with deadly accuracy, it changes their behavior. They become hesitant and less effective. This new sniper record sends a clear message: nowhere in the operational zone is safe for invaders.

Notes

¹ Pidar (pronounced “pidar”) – Ukrainian military slang for an enemy combatant. In radio communications, the word “Pidar” sounds shorter and clearer than “Enemy” especially under EW.

² Spotter – the sniper’s partner who measures distance, corrects for wind and weather, and guides fire; an essential part of every sniper pair.

³ 200 (dvukhsotyi) – in Ukrainian Army slang means KIA (Killed in Action).