Hungry in Pink

A good text from Denys Yangol, whom we support⬇️ "How has the war changed over the past four years? And is there still a need for a sniper or marksman on the modern battlefield — an infantry sniper within a unit, a specialist in accurate shooting? Recently, I have repeatedly heard the opinion that snipers are gradually being pushed out of the battlefield by FPV kamikaze drones. The idea is that precision-shooting specialists should be retrained as UAV operators. In my opinion, this judgment is wrong. Yes, the war has changed dramatically. UAVs have become one of the main tools for reconnaissance and engagement. But that does not mean the need for an accurate shooter has disappeared. There is one simple point that is often forgotten. Before a UAV operator reaches his position and starts working with a drone, he is an ordinary infantryman. And his route to his working position passes through a battlefield where enemy UAVs, artillery, mines, and other means of engagement are already operating. Therefore, a modern UAV operator himself must be a very well-trained servicemember and shooter. A UAV operator or infantryman may sometimes have to engage a fast aerial target that suddenly changes direction and makes an attack approach at high speed. An FPV drone is a small target. Roughly speaking, its dimensions can be around 40×40 cm, but depending on the angle, its silhouette becomes significantly smaller. With a fiber-optic spool, it may be somewhat larger in profile. So the shooter has effectively been presented with a new category of target — fast, maneuverable, and small. For comparison, the “A-zone” of a classic IPSC target is approximately 15×30 cm. Those are roughly the dimensions we were trained to work with for precision shooting back in the day. And this is where the paradox arises. The more drones there are on the battlefield, the higher the requirements for the shooting skills of an ordinary infantryman. A modern servicemember must know his weapon better, understand its characteristics and ballistics, be able to work against moving targets, and quickly assess the situation. In other words, the drone war has not eliminated the need for a shooter. It has raised the requirements for the shooting training of all personnel. It forces us to train infantrymen to the level of a marksman. And now another question. Does infantry combat still exist at all, if it seems that the enemy is being destroyed exclusively by UAV operators? Yes. A telling example is Operation Vivaldi on the Lyman–Borova direction, which is currently underway. During assault operations, drones provide reconnaissance, engagement, logistics, and a huge number of other capabilities. But when it is necessary to enter an area, check it, clear it, establish control, and hold it — a person still has to do all of that. Infantry — assault troops. Sappers. Snipers. Marksmen. Today, the line of contact does not always look like the classic system of continuous trenches that we still saw in 2022. An individual servicemember may spend months in a small prepared position — a dugout, cellar, basement, or among the ruins of a building. The supply of such positions is largely provided by UAVs. As you can see, the very existence of such a system means that the infantryman is and will remain on the battlefield, and a UAV will not replace him. Because destroying such a dugout with a UAV does not necessarily produce the expected result: the next day, another enemy infantryman occupies it. When it is time for an assault, clearing, and consolidation, the final word still belongs to the infantryman — the marksman, and sometimes the sniper. That is why I do not see the sniper or marksman profession disappearing. Especially when it comes to urban environments. A city is full of ready-made shelters, observation sectors, vertical levels, and opportunities for concealed movement. Here, a precision-shooting specialist can work side by side with a UAV operator, complementing their capabilities. That is why I see the modern servicemember somewhat differently. Today, every infantryman should have the level of shooting training that we previously required from a much narrower circle of specialists — snipers and marksmen. He should be proficient with his weapon, understand its capabilities and ballistics, and be able to engage moving targets. He should have the skills to shoot moving targets with both rifled and smoothbore weapons at a level comparable to that developed through clay-target shooting. He should understand the basics of mine safety and military engineering. He should be able to act as a military scout — observe, camouflage himself, navigate, survive, and operate autonomously. UAVs have not replaced infantry. They have changed the way infantry fights. And as long as clearing, controlling, and holding territory is carried out by people, the need for marksmen and snipers will not disappear. Today, I am also obtaining UAV operator qualifications, because this additional skill allows me to be more effective on the battlefield. But I was, and will remain, a sniper — a marksman. And I will always train specialists in this field as well. Respectfully, with a handshake, Your Angel." ✔️ Endless thanks to everyone for your support! We purchased a Quake Drone Hunter for shooting down enemy FPV drones — 33,504 UAH!!!⬇️ Friends! Please support our Fundraiser to protect the Warriors of Light from enemy FPV drones. Right now, we urgently need: 1. Super shotguns for shooting down FPV drones — long-barreled super Quake Drone Hunters for special forces and assault troops — 33,500 UAH each, and classic Quakes for most fighters — 26,300 UAH each! 2. Dozens of boxes of ammunition for combat use — 6,670 UAH per box of 250 rounds! HELP!!! Follow @MapleSyrupF for the TeamYuri Raffle updates! Monobank accepts 🍏Apple Pay & 🍀Google Pay send.monobank.ua/jar/7uwhtDG… *spotfund spot.fund/rlnzphsc DonorBox donorbox.org/light-will-prev… 🧩Bitcoin bc1qwcmc2nqz4jnfyeuwx03vn3y8u2lh8zfz4nxkgd ⚡️Lightning Bitcoin lno1pgtygmmwv96xjmmwwvsxvmmjyp2x2ctdt96hy6gkyypayv3vm0pvalcurfrrmxs9hwr5r9efnspgjmh5d637z736gk2k90c 👕TeamYuri Merch bonfire.com/store/teamyuri/ All ways to help (including Swift) listed here 👉 chornomorets.notepin.co