It was luck. I only consider a true shot one that is repeatable. Anyone can lob a bunch of rounds down range and eventually make the hit. This time, the sniper was lucky. I would be curious to learn more about the gear/caliber/spotting involved.
But the shot is possible.
Snipers do NOT have the most advanced or top notch technology... at all. They get with they are issued and that is it. Many branches of the military still hold onto the .308 Winchester and the .300 Winchester Magnum rounds, very ineffective long range rounds. They have started looking at the .260 Remington, which I personally compete with as a variant to this round, the 6.5mm Creedmoor. For me, IPSC silhouette hits out to 1,200 meters are not that difficult.
As for ammunition. They are really hindered here. They cannot reload their own ammo, they have to again use what they get. That is a really downer in my book. But when you consider all of the different situations the sniper encounters, it makes sense they have a few rounds that are for a myriad of situations. A lot of the thoughts behind long range precision stop when you are talking about glass, steel, reduced visibility, coordinated fire, suppressed fire, etc. I know several snipers, both for the police and the military, and they would laugh at your statement. Just remember that a sniper has to deal with a lot more than you or I EVER will, and at a two way range at that. Those guys are tough. It is rarely about the shot. Just getting into position is difficult.
My hats off to that sniper. I hope he gets home safe and sound and can live to tell about it. Not all of them do.