Inside Ukraine’s ‘invisible’ elite sniper divisions causing chaos for Putin’s commanders

A Ukrainian sniper holds on the position of Ukrainian forces on frontline in Lugansk (2015) So-called ‘invisible’ units of crack Ukrainian snipers are causing chaos for Russian troops, one bullet at a time. The role of the Devils and Angels – an elite group of sharpshooters consisting of both men and women – is to create disorganisation in the Russian military. Members of the group are attached to other units, such as units within the 47th Brigade in Zaporizhzhya to the east of Ukraine or units of the 115th Mechanised Brigade. They have to fit a certain psychological profile for the cold-blooded role, which sees them go on brave reconnaissance missions into no-mans-land, and send Russian units into “disarray” by picking off commanding officers. The Russian Army needs officers to lead its units because it doesn’t have any noncommissioned officers or troops who rose up the ranks to leadership positions. The officers can be spotted from a great distance because of their distinct uniforms and boots. Back in November, Ukrainian armed forces said one of their snipers was able to kill a Russian soldier at a record-breaking distance of 8,900 feet. Stephen Fry rushed to bomb shelter during Ukraine visit Ukrainian military member with sniper rifle on the military outdoor firing range on July 5 But speaking to reporters in a new rare public appearance, one Ukrainian sniper attached to the 115th said just being able to shoot a sniper isn’t enough to qualify for the group. He added you have to be “calm” in the midst of chaos – something that’s difficult to learn in a training camp. Snipers generally operate in pairs, with one acting as a spotter, measuring things like distance, wind speed, and other factors that can influence a shot. When fighting into the night, one sleeps and the other one watches. In the Ukraine war, trips to no man’s land can last over a week although they are usually about a day and a half. During this time, the snipers are isolated from the units they’re embedded with. Another female sniper, given the call name Cuckoo, told the Wall Street Journal she once spent three days lying in wait She said: “Helicopters are firing, artillery is hitting your lines, Russians that were hiding just minutes before are suddenly moving. “You hit what you can see.” Sharpshooters have been pivotal in the defense of the Bakhmut region SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info She added: “I don’t see their faces, the emotions on them, the photos of their wives, or anything else about their lives. “I just see figures that move, and I shoot.” Sharpshooters have been vital in helping with Ukraine’s months-long defence of Bakhmut, an area known as the “Bakhmut meat grinder”. Long-range snipers are said to help stabilise the front lines during defensive operations. During intense fighting in the city of Bakhmut, the stealthy soldiers helped to deter waves and waves of fighters from the Wagner Group who first launched an assault on the city in October 2022. Trending