Here's Why Russia Wants To Train A Thousand Snipers (Urban Warfare?)

TBI ^ | 10-20-2011 | Adam Taylor

[blam]

Here's Why Russia Wants To Train A Thousand Snipers

Adam Taylor
Oct. 20, 2011, 12:40 PM

Reports in Russian media suggest that the Russian army is hoping to train 1,000 snipers in the next few months.

The move is a major reorganization of the Russia's army. Earlier this month Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Sergey Vlasov told reporters “We are establishing a phased, multi-tiered system for selecting and training candidates, to teach them how to work as part of a unit and independently. All snipers will have special training once every three or four years.”

The announcement has been met with confusion. With reports that the snipers would be pulled from normal troops and the first group would only have initial training of 3-4 months, experts argue would likely be useless in a major war situation.

So why the rush? Liz Fuller at RFE/RL hypothesizes that the snipers are being trained for some kind of close-quarters, urban-warfare type situations — which could definitely mass demonstrations or an Arab Spring-type action.

Which leads us to wonder what exactly Russia are expecting...

(snip)

[blam]

Russian Steelmaker Warns That Putin's Return Could Spell Unrest

Adam Taylor
Oct. 20, 2011, 3:07 PM

In a prospectus for new shares, Russian firm Evraz has warned of the potential for unrest in Russia after Putin's return to presidential office.

“In particular, the recently announced intentions of Mr. Putin to return to the Presidency and Mr. Medvedev to support Mr. Putin’s re-election as President in 2012 could cause political protests and unrest,” says Evraz (via the WSJ).

While it hasn't caused much protest in Russia the time of writing, internationally eyebrows were raised when Putin announced his intention to run for President next year.

Perhaps Russia will be needing those snipers after all...

[ebshumidors]

Project Appleseed can get you to 500yds with iron sights and no rest in two days for $70. See my tagline.

[buffaloguy]

Thanks for the headup on The Appleseed Project. I’m definitely goingt to check it out.

I wonder if they would take someone with a .45-70?

[cunning_fish]

I don’t know why it ever make news.
Snipers are traditional part of their urban warfare strategy since WWII.
There are lot of civilian gun freaks in rural Russia as well.
Redneck kids are usually snipers as soon as they are drafted to military there.