The Russo-Ukrainian War initially began in 2014, over a decade ago, when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. But Russia amplified the conflict in February 2022 by invading Ukraine. Al Jazeera reported that over one million people have been killed in the resulting years; the article even quoted the Wall Street Journal as saying that “according to government figures, in the first half of 2024, three times as many people died in Ukraine as were born.” Despite Russia’s offensive campaign, Ukraine has been holding its own in the fight. In fact, Ukraine recently launched an attack on the Kursk region in western Russia, holding part of the territory. This could come in handy for future strategic negotiations between the two countries — though, for now, that seems somewhat far off. (Is Ukraine the next never-ending war?)
Many Ukrainians, in an effort to support their country, have joined war efforts — including 59-year-old former businessman turned sniper specialist for Ukraine’s SBU Security Service military counter-intelligence Viacheslav Kovalskyi. In December 2023, Kovalskyi broke the world record for sniper kills during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to an interview with Kovalskyi in the Wall Street Journal, the shot was at a distance of 3,800 meters or 4,156 yards. To understand more about this sniper kill, as well as the man behind it, 24/7 Wall St. took a look into Kovalskyi and his rifle. We used insights from the WSJ article and sourced other details from Ukrainian publications and military forums. In regards to the rifle, we found information using firearm websites such as The Firearm Blog and 1911 Firearm Addicts. (These 16 long guns are redefining long-range warfare.)
Why Are We Covering This Incredible Sniper Kill?
The role of snipers in modern warfare, and especially in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, cannot be understated. Russians and Ukrainian soldiers are suddenly finding themselves fighting in both urban and rural combat environments. This requires each military force to be adaptable, as some traditional methods of warfare might not be possible. Snipers like Kovalskyi can protect civilians, disrupt enemy operations, and gather intelligence while also reducing the risk of harm for their own forces. This has made snipers valuable as Ukraine fights to defend itself. Plus, achieving a world record for a sniper kill is undoubtedly fascinating — so we had to share the man who made this effort possible.
Take a look at how Viacheslav Kovalskyi achieved the world record for his sniper kill:
1. Who is Kovalskyi?
The invasion of Ukraine.
Typically, countries prefer to keep the identity of active service members secret when it comes to events like these. Of course, other countries may choose to strike back and target a specific person or group should they learn the identity. However, given that much of the conflict in Ukraine can be influenced by public opinion, it makes sense why the Ukrainian government chose to reveal Kovalskyi’s identity. While Kovalskyi’s identity and age are known, little else has been made public about this man.
2. Horizon’s Lord
A Marine sniper.
Kovalskyi used a Volodar Obriyu (Володар Обрію), which means Horizon’s Lord. It is a single-shot bolt-action anti-materiel rifle. Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, stated that “You get the high velocity generated by a large amount of propellent in a big old case, but you get the lower air resistance and more velocity out of the small bullets as well.”
3. The Weapon’s History
A M40A6.
The Horizon’s Lord is a relatively new rifle designed by Ukrainian MAYAK arms manufacturer. It was created to bridge the gap between anti-materiel weapons and sniper rifles but maintain a longer range than rifles that use a .50 BMG round.
4. Ammunition
.50 BMG.
Instead, the Horizon’s Lord uses a new kind of ammunition, a .50 caliber, 12.7x114HL cartridge designed specifically for this weapon. It is a .50 BMG bullet that has been adapted and compressed to fit the weapon. This makes the Horizon’s Lord an especially unique and effective weapon.
5. Round Capabilities
A sniper event.
The new 12.7x114HL cartridge has a flatter trajectory, extended supersonic range, retains energy more effectively, and isn’t affected by wind as much. It also generates 30% less recoil than the standard 14.5x114mm.
6. Weapon Design
The Horizon’s Lord was designed to be lighter and shorter than other large sniper rifles, staying around 33 pounds in weight and 63 inches in length. The model that Kovalskyi used was around 36 pounds and 71 inches long. This could make it easier to transport in active combat situations.
7. Adaptability
A sniper and his spotter.
The Horizon’s Lord can be changed to use different caliber and size bullets simply by easily detaching the barrel and bolt head. It can fit .416 Barrett, .460 Steyr, .50 BMG, and 12.7x108mm caliber rounds and 14.5x114mm and 23x115mm size rounds.
8. Ukrainian Service
The War in Ukraine.
Kovalskyi is a new sniper, and one of the first in-field operators of the Horizon’s Lord, with Ukraine’s counterintelligence unit of its Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). Ukraine’s Security Service, headquartered in Ukraine, employs over 29,000 individuals.
9. The Record Kill
Soldiers in Ukraine.
On November 18, Kovalskyi and his partner identified a Russian officer instructing soldiers and decided to make a kill. He made one test shot to determine the true wind speed and immediately took the second kill shot.
10. Kill Specifics
Ukrainian soldier.
It took the bullet around nine seconds to hit the Russian officer. Since the round is supersonic, the man was dead long before the other soldiers heard the shot. The Horizon’s Lord works similarly to an artillery cannon, in that the bullet fired traveled vertically to about 100 meters above the target before falling and hitting the officer.
11. Impact of the Hit
Ukrainian soldiers.
Kovalskyi said that the bullet hit the officer’s chest and that the bullet was so large and traveling so fast that it is impossible to survive a hit like that. His shot took the record from “JTF2,” an undisclosed sniper who made a 3,540 meter (3,871 yard) shot during the war in Iraq.
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