<p>"I'm not afraid of Russians," says "Voron", a sniper with the State Border Guard of Ukraine in the eastern Donbas region.</p>.<p>"But don't tell my mum I'm here," he adds, laughing.</p>.<p>The 29-year-old soldier's mother probably guessed, as her son has been in the military for 12 years -- and that he has wanted to be a sniper since childhood.</p>.<p>In action films, snipers are typically portrayed as ruthless, silent lone wolves, lying in wait to pick off prey with clinical efficiency.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/attacks-reported-across-ukraine-biden-to-visit-neighbour-poland-1190130.html" target="_blank">Attacks reported across Ukraine, Biden to visit neighbour Poland</a></strong></p>.<p>But "Voron" -- whose Ukrainian call sign means "Raven" in English -- describes a different reality.</p>.<p>"Usually the kit I have doesn't always fit into one car," he says from behind a thermal balaclava ski mask to keep out the biting cold and protect his identity.</p>.<p>To carry out his tasks, Voron needs much more than his AXMC, a rifle that can hit targets up to 1.5 kilometres (nearly one mile) away.</p>.<p>"It's shovels just for building up your position, ammunition of course, your covering group and spotter... usually five or six people, four at a minimum."</p>.<p>Despite fierce fighting and heavy shelling in places like Bakhmut, the winter months have slowed down the battle for the Donbas region.</p>.<p>But the conflict is expected to intensify as the first anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches on February 24.</p>.<p>Snipers have been playing their part.</p>.<p>They can conduct reconnaissance missions on targets up to three kilometres away or shoot small groups of enemy fighters from hidden positions.</p>.<p>Their first task is to meticulously monitor for any changes in the area.</p>.<p>"Brushwood that wasn't there the night before... might be an enemy sniper if it's a rural area," he explains.</p>.<p>"In more urban areas, you're looking for any changes in the windows and the roofs and something that is not how it should be... everything is a threat."</p>.<p>Voron dodges a question about how effective snipers have been in the war so far.</p>.<p>Still, he maintains that snipers remain essential, even if he acknowledges they are not a cure-all.</p>.<p>"Some people hate us. But if there is any trouble people always want us there," he says.</p>.<p>And they hold a special place inside the paramilitary unit, which in peacetime patrols Ukraine's borders.</p>.<p>"You're the eyes of your commander and you're the one who will eliminate the most dangerous threat -- unless it's a tank, of course," he says.</p>.<p>Looking into telescopic sights for long hours can be stressful, Voron says, but nothing is as difficult as withstanding the frost for hours on end.</p>.<p>Snipers can lie hidden for up to two days in one position.</p>.<p>Even when temperatures recently reached around minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit), covering the ground in snow and freezing everything, the men have to hold on.</p>.<p>"It's damn cold," he says with a laugh. "Hard work."</p>.<p>But the preparation and the wait, as painful as they may be, are the strength of the snipers.</p>.<p>"There's a joke in the military that if you tell the infantry and a sniper they have eight hours to cut down a tree, the infantry spends eight hours cutting down the tree," he says.</p>.<p>"The sniper spends seven hours sharpening the axe, then cuts it down with one blow."</p>
<p>"I'm not afraid of Russians," says "Voron", a sniper with the State Border Guard of Ukraine in the eastern Donbas region.</p>.<p>"But don't tell my mum I'm here," he adds, laughing.</p>.<p>The 29-year-old soldier's mother probably guessed, as her son has been in the military for 12 years -- and that he has wanted to be a sniper since childhood.</p>.<p>In action films, snipers are typically portrayed as ruthless, silent lone wolves, lying in wait to pick off prey with clinical efficiency.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/attacks-reported-across-ukraine-biden-to-visit-neighbour-poland-1190130.html" target="_blank">Attacks reported across Ukraine, Biden to visit neighbour Poland</a></strong></p>.<p>But "Voron" -- whose Ukrainian call sign means "Raven" in English -- describes a different reality.</p>.<p>"Usually the kit I have doesn't always fit into one car," he says from behind a thermal balaclava ski mask to keep out the biting cold and protect his identity.</p>.<p>To carry out his tasks, Voron needs much more than his AXMC, a rifle that can hit targets up to 1.5 kilometres (nearly one mile) away.</p>.<p>"It's shovels just for building up your position, ammunition of course, your covering group and spotter... usually five or six people, four at a minimum."</p>.<p>Despite fierce fighting and heavy shelling in places like Bakhmut, the winter months have slowed down the battle for the Donbas region.</p>.<p>But the conflict is expected to intensify as the first anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches on February 24.</p>.<p>Snipers have been playing their part.</p>.<p>They can conduct reconnaissance missions on targets up to three kilometres away or shoot small groups of enemy fighters from hidden positions.</p>.<p>Their first task is to meticulously monitor for any changes in the area.</p>.<p>"Brushwood that wasn't there the night before... might be an enemy sniper if it's a rural area," he explains.</p>.<p>"In more urban areas, you're looking for any changes in the windows and the roofs and something that is not how it should be... everything is a threat."</p>.<p>Voron dodges a question about how effective snipers have been in the war so far.</p>.<p>Still, he maintains that snipers remain essential, even if he acknowledges they are not a cure-all.</p>.<p>"Some people hate us. But if there is any trouble people always want us there," he says.</p>.<p>And they hold a special place inside the paramilitary unit, which in peacetime patrols Ukraine's borders.</p>.<p>"You're the eyes of your commander and you're the one who will eliminate the most dangerous threat -- unless it's a tank, of course," he says.</p>.<p>Looking into telescopic sights for long hours can be stressful, Voron says, but nothing is as difficult as withstanding the frost for hours on end.</p>.<p>Snipers can lie hidden for up to two days in one position.</p>.<p>Even when temperatures recently reached around minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit), covering the ground in snow and freezing everything, the men have to hold on.</p>.<p>"It's damn cold," he says with a laugh. "Hard work."</p>.<p>But the preparation and the wait, as painful as they may be, are the strength of the snipers.</p>.<p>"There's a joke in the military that if you tell the infantry and a sniper they have eight hours to cut down a tree, the infantry spends eight hours cutting down the tree," he says.</p>.<p>"The sniper spends seven hours sharpening the axe, then cuts it down with one blow."</p>