A Ukrainian sniper working for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has shattered the world record for the longest confirmed sniper kill, taking down a Russian soldier at an astonishing distance of 3.8 kilometers, or around 2.3 miles. The SBU press office proudly announced this feat, stating that their sniper had surpassed the previous record by approximately 260 meters.

The previous record had been held by a Canadian special forces sniper, who made a kill shot at a distance of 3,540 meters in Iraq back in 2017. Before that, British sniper Craig Harrison held the title after eliminating a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan from a distance of 2,475 meters in 2009.

The SBU expressed their enthusiasm over their sniper's remarkable achievement, claiming that their snipers were revolutionizing the world of sniping with their ability to work effectively at extraordinary distances. The Ukrainian media outlets, including Gordonua.com and Ukrinform, also shared alleged footage of the record-breaking strike. The shot was reportedly made using a domestically-produced rifle called "the Lord of the Horizon."

It is worth noting that Newsweek has not yet independently verified the information or the video. In light of this, efforts are underway to reach out to the SBU and Russia's defense ministry for additional comments and confirmation.

The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, is nearing its 21st month. As both sides face the harsh winter conditions, the war has been described as an artillery war. However, snipers have also played a vital role on the battlefield, as exemplified by the Ukrainian sniper's record-breaking shot.

In recent developments, Ukraine's General Staff announced that it successfully intercepted a barrage of strategic drones launched by Russia overnight. Kyiv's air-defense systems managed to destroy 15 out of 20 Iranian-designed Shahed drones utilized by Moscow. Additionally, Russia launched five missiles and carried out 76 airstrikes against Ukraine within the past 24 hours. More than 150 Ukrainian settlements in the north, east, and south of the country came under artillery fire during this period.

The fighting around the beleaguered Donetsk town of Avdiivka continues, with the Ukrainian military reporting 22 attacks in the Donetsk town of Marinka. However, Russia's defense ministry has stated that their southern grouping of forces successfully repelled six Ukrainian attacks near Marinka, as well as in the villages of Klishchiivka and Shumy.

As the war rages on, the Ukrainian sniper's record-breaking shot serves as a testament to the skill and determination of the Ukrainian armed forces in the face of adversity.