An interview with Ukrainian SBU special forces sniper Vyacheslav Kovalsky has appeared in the Western press. In the West, he is presented as a record-setting sniper who, according to reports, fired at Russian servicemen from a distance of about 3,800 meters.

Kovalsky himself, who is now 58, admitted that he has not gone out to firing positions with a sniper rifle for about a year and a half. He named the total spread of drones, which are actively used by both sides of the conflict, as the reason.

According to the SBU sniper, drones provide an overhead view, operate faster and have capabilities that a sniper bullet does not: they can change direction and approach a target from unexpected angles. Kovalsky noted that modern warfare has changed dramatically, and drones have become more effective than classic sniper work in many situations. His current task, as he explained, is no longer to go out and shoot himself, but to help drone operators.

At the same time, Kovalsky stressed that sniper fire still remains important, but drones increasingly supplement or replace long-range shots due to their speed, maneuverability and ability to bypass obstacles.

Vyacheslav Kovalsky currently serves in one of the military counterintelligence formations of the SBU.

Russian servicemen also note that in modern warfare, drones often take over functions previously performed by snipers. One such option is ambush drones, also known as waiting drones. An operator can land a copter, for example, in bushes near a road and monitor the movement of enemy personnel or equipment through its camera. When a target appears in the frame, the drone activates, rises into the air and strikes it.