Please observe the picture to your right. Allegedly this is Russian Elite GRU Spetsnaz (Войска специального назначения) “sniper”, Alexei Milchakov, firing on Ukrainian forces. The picture was posted on to his VKontakte page.
Milchakov, a well-known Russian GRU Spetsnaz soldier, “little green man,” and notorious for being a sadist and Nazi sympathizer, operates currently as the commander of “Batman,” a rapid response unit of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) operating out of Luhansk.
– http://ukrainewarlog.blogspot.com/2014/10/russian-elite-gru-spetsnaz-photographed.html
Unfortunately this pictures shows a sniper with either no training or, rather, no proper equipment and certainly using improper technique. Give a trained sniper a quality gun, a quality scope and quality ammo and the tactical picture could change significantly if he or she were there. This guy couldn’t. He can’t even conceal his position and, most glaringly, his head is exposed. That round moon-shaped object would be the easiest target to engage and he wouldn’t last a New York minute on any battlefield. The guy taking his picture? If you will kindly observe, the angle of the picture is pointing down, he’s even more exposed and he’s drawing undue attention to poor Alexei.
A few of us, mostly ex-special operations folks, have been observing the Russian forces and we are not impressed. They’re sloppy, undisciplined, not well-trained and inexperienced.
We believe there is a mystique to Russian Spetsnaz that is no longer deserved.
This guy here shows poor technique if he is sniping. Horrible technique, as a matter of fact. He couldn’t hit anything beyond 800 meters, not even on a good day.
But the bigger picture is hearing of entire brigades of Russian Spetsnaz being sent to East Ukraine and getting chopped to pieces, many returning in body bags or coffins.
No longer do they appear to be stealthy. No longer do they seem to be well-trained. Nor disciplined. Too often we have heard stories of Russian Spetsnaz killing indiscriminately, committing what most consider war crimes and laughing like little school boys about playing a prank on little Suzie.
I’ve seen them walk upright into battle. I’ve seen them carrying weapons at hip level. I’ve seen them running, keeping their heart rate elevated, ensuring an unstable firing position when they need it to be steady. I’ve seen them grouped together, ensuring a high casualty rate if engaged by a mortar or hand grenade. I’ve seen poor and bad techniques used by what is supposed to be a high quality fighting force. They set bad examples and don’t appear to deserve any of the stories told about them in past times.
Recalling the stories I heard about Spetsnaz over the past few decades, I realize now they were just stories. The propaganda films of Spetsnaz walking through fire and other acts of sheer stupidity, not bravery, were all for show.
Compare that with all the videos about US Special Forces. You don’t see many. No? I didn’t think so. US Special Forces are, quite simply, the quiet professionals.
Russian forces, especially Spetsnaz, do not appear to be well-trained or well-disciplined. Russian forces may be formidable, but not professional soldiers. …and they’re getting killed quickly.
The Russians are not professionals.
To Inform is to Influence 