Ukraine sniper hits Russian commander 5,900ft away – the longest kill in the war

A Ukrainian sniper known as “Alpha” has eliminated a senior Russian commander at a distance of 5,900ft – the longest kill to date in the war.

The soldier made the hit near the besieged town of Bakhmut.

He is one of 12 sniper team, known as the “ghost force” that have been targeting Russian troops around the town.

READ MORE: Bloodshed in Ukraine could go on until 2026 as Zelenskyy pledges to retake Crimea

On social media, Ukrainian forces claimed the target was the deputy commander of forces in the region who was visiting troops when one of their drones spotted him.

A Ukrainian officer said: “Our team saw him and he was eliminated, I’m told it was a very difficult shot.

"This is the longest sniper kill that we have made since the invasion and it is a capability that frightens the enemy.

“After the shoot the Russians were clearly very spooked by our ability. Many conscripts are deserting.”

The hit comes as the US is poised to send cluster bombs to Ukraine to help them in their counter-offensive against Russia.

The controversial weapons are banned in more than 100 countries across the globe due to the risk they pose to civilians, with "bomblets" able to detonate years after first being launched.

Initially the American Government held off sending the bombs to Kyiv because of these fears – but now US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said they are "necessary" as Russia itself is using the weapons.

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However, the move has not been popular among human rights groups, who have urged Ukraine to avoid using the weapons and encouraged the US not to supply them.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said: "Cluster munitions scatter small bomblets over a wide area, many of which fail to explode immediately.

"They can kill and maim years later.

"That’s why use should stop immediately."

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