This footage, provided as part of a Finnish documentary, shows an incident from the Autumn of 2023, during which the Ukrainian forces were pushing an offensive in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. Herein, a Finnish volunteer takes fire from close range. He comes so close to death that the scope of his rifle takes a round meant for him.

The volunteer appears to be in a mixed unit, given that English is used (“Let’s move, ladies!”). At 01:02, the camera owner takes fire. It is audibly much closer than the other gunfire in the area. He dives out of the line of fire and returns it. The camera footage cuts to another soldier advising, in English, to make sure that the shooter is dead.

Later, during a smoke break, the soldier shows off his rifle’s scope, complete with fresh entry and exit holes in the scope’s windage and elevation housing. It doesn’t get much closer than that.

 

About the Author

 

       

     

Cole Simms

     

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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