The commanding officer training them was initially sceptical about the idea. Now he believes they are more suited to the profession than men
with blonde locks and silicone-enhanced lips, squats to unzip an American Barrett sniper rifle from its carry bag. “The love of my life,” she says, as she places the gun in its firing position. A bearded instructor behind her barks instructions: “Three targets; 186 metres away; shoot to kill.” Sultan lies down, flicks her ponytail behind her head.The bullets land no more than an inch off target. She seems unsurprised. “You have to kill without giving a damn. And I don’t give a damn.
of “Deputy”, the only biographical detail he offers. Aside from shooting practice, Deputy’s sessions include lessons on tactics, ballistics and movement. In usual circumstances, the training would run for a year and a half. In Ukraine, where the cycles of life and death run faster, the women are to be deployed in a matter of weeks.
The women trainees say they have faced resistance at every stage of their journey, usually from men who believed women are fundamentally unsuited to the sniping profession. “We’ve never sought an easy life,” says Phoenix, “but we’ve proven ourselves whenever the question is asked.” She says she is under no illusions about the dangers. Snipers occupy a particular spot in military psychology, and are singled out for demonstrative treatment if they are ever captured.
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