Russian-led separatist fighters have released video footage showing the improvised 23 mm heavy sniper rifle called the Separatist. 

The Separatist is a self-made heavy sniper rifle that fires a massive 23mm projectile developed by militants who took over government buildings in Donetsk and Lugansk regions in Ukraine and were consistently labeled as “separatists” and “terrorists” by the Ukrainian government and the western media.

According to the video, the new sniper rifle is capable fires at the maximum range of 3,000 m. Its primarily intended to defeat enemy forces hidden behind fortified walls and to destroy light armored vehicles.

The 23mm sniper rifle designed on a special heavy-duty, adjustable tripod assembly designed to absorb some of the inherently violent recoil natural to a weapon of this caliber.

The rifle has a number of disadvantages, including high weight and low accuracy.