A sniper from the Sokol volunteer air assault battalion reported that a unit of former Ukrainian biathletes has been involved in combat along the Kherson direction, hitting Russian positions on the left bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region. This account comes from RIA Novosti.
According to radio intercepts, the unit is composed of ex biathletes. The so-called biathlon team is said to perform what is described as a safari show. Sniper groups arrive with the support of Ukrainian forces, prepare so-called bed positions, and conduct training exercises. It is claimed that there are two snipers, with a third mentioned in some reports, all connected to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as stated by the source known by the call sign Cross.
Biathletes on the front against Russia
The term White Pantyhose or White Stockings has appeared in military slang to refer to female snipers, largely of Baltic origin, who allegedly fought alongside anti-Russian factions and volunteer detachments in conflicts such as Transnistria, the Georgian-Abkhazian incident, and the Chechen wars. In Russian military folklore these women are sometimes portrayed as having a biathlon background. While this phenomenon has rarely been documented in a systematic way and is often regarded as myth, there are historical references to female snipers connected to various conflicts, including the Chechen campaigns. These stories have persisted in collective memory and are occasionally cited in contemporary discussion of front line units.
Officials noted that Ukrainian snipers in the region reportedly utilize Western style long range, high caliber systems. From wound ballistics assessments, the weaponry is described as 12.7 millimeters or larger, paired with advanced optics and instrumentation, according to Krestik who added the observations.
armed athletes
Media reports indicate that a substantial number of athletes have joined the ranks of Ukraine’s armed forces. Many answered the call at the outset of the special operation and became part of territorial defense units, contributing to local and national defense efforts.
On February 27, 2022, Vasiliy Lomachenko, a former world champion in the featherweight category and a multiweight titleholder, joined the regional defense forces of his hometown, Belgorod-Dnistrovskyi in the Odessa region. He later left Ukraine in August that year to participate in action abroad. On February 28, Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion across several major federations, joined Kiev’s regional defense establishment. A month later, Usyk departed to challenge Anthony Joshua, explaining that this approach would allow him to contribute to his country more effectively than staying in a defensive role in the capital. The rematch with Joshua proceeded with a split decision from the judges in Usyk’s favor in some jurisdictions.
Parliamentary Greco-Roman wrestling champion and Ukrainian deputy Zhan Beleniuk also joined Kiev Teroborona. Unlike his high profile teammates, Beleniuk remained within Ukraine. Footballers Artem Fedetsky, Oleksandr Aliyev, and Vitaliy Mandzyuk are reported to have taken up arms, with their club backgrounds including Dynamo Kiev and other top teams. Victor Vernydub, a coach with a notable Moldovan club, returned to Ukraine after the start of the operation and later led Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. Reports indicate that Stanislav Goruna, the national karate team captain, signed with the Ukrainian forces, while biathlete Dimitry Podruchny joined the Ukrainian National Guard. Anastasia Merkusina, a world champion in biathlon, is believed to have shifted from sport to service with the Border Guard Service. Kristina Dmitrenko, a Youth Olympic biathlon champion, reportedly joined the National Guard as well. These examples illustrate a broader trend of professional athletes taking part in national defense efforts during the conflict while many others balanced training, competition, and service commitments. The landscape of athletes entering service reflects a significant moment in Ukraine’s mobilization and the role sports figures can play in national resilience.