War has changed. It's not just about bullets anymore; it’s about who controls the narrative while those bullets are flying. When people talk about el francotirador de Donbass, or the sniper of Donbass, they are usually referring to one man: Dejan Berić. Known by his call sign "Deki," Berić isn't some ghost story or a fictional character from a Tom Clancy novel. He’s a real person, a Serbian national who became one of the most visible faces of the pro-Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine long before the full-scale invasion of 2022.
He's complicated. To some, he's a hero defending a specific ideology; to others, he's a mercenary and a war criminal who violated international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine.
Honestly, the way he grew his reputation is a masterclass in modern propaganda. He didn't just hide in treelines with a suppressed rifle. He sat in front of cameras. He posted on social media. He made sure the world—especially the Serbian-speaking world—saw what he was doing. This wasn't the silent, invisible sniper trope we see in movies. This was a man using a high-caliber rifle as a prop for a global PR campaign.
Who is Dejan Berić?
Before he became el francotirador de Donbass, Berić was a relatively ordinary guy from Putinci, a small village in Serbia. He had a business making PVC windows. It failed. He ended up with significant debt. By 2014, when the Maidan Revolution shook Kyiv and the subsequent conflict broke out in the Donbass region, Berić vanished from his civilian life and reappeared in Crimea, and later, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
Why did he go? He claims it was "Slavic brotherhood" and a desire to protect the Orthodox faith. Critics point to his financial troubles and the lure of notoriety.
The reality is likely a mix of both. War attracts those who have nothing to lose. Once he arrived, he wasn't just another foot soldier. He was a skilled marksman. He joined various paramilitary groups, most notably the Northern Wind and later elements tied to the DPR's internal security forces. He didn't just shoot; he documented. He became a "war correspondent" and a sniper simultaneously, a dual role that makes traditional military purists cringe but works wonders for digital recruitment.
The Myth vs. The Ballistics
Let's get into the technical side for a second because that's what people actually want to know when they search for a sniper. Berić has been photographed with a variety of hardware, ranging from the classic SVD Dragunov to high-end Russian Orsis T-5000 rifles.
The SVD is a workhorse, but it's more of a designated marksman rifle than a true "one mile, one kill" sniper platform. It's semi-automatic, chambered in 7.62x54mmR. It's reliable. It's rugged. But when Berić started appearing with the Orsis T-5000, that’s when his "professional" image peaked. The T-5000 is a bolt-action precision tool. It’s chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, a round designed specifically to bridge the gap between standard sniper rounds and heavy anti-materiel rounds.
💡 You might also like: Passive Resistance Explained: Why It Is Way More Than Just Standing Still
The Sniper's Social Media Strategy
You have to understand how weird it is for a sniper to be this public. Traditionally, snipers are the most secretive people on the battlefield. If the enemy knows where you are or what you look like, you're dead.
But el francotirador de Donbass flipped the script. He used YouTube and Telegram to build a cult of personality.
- He posted videos of him "hunting" Ukrainian snipers.
- He did interviews in Serbian, Spanish, and Russian.
- He even wrote books about his experiences.
- He positioned himself as a protector of civilians, regardless of whether the tactical reality matched that claim.
This visibility served a purpose: recruitment. By showing a "successful" life on the front lines, he encouraged other foreign fighters—specifically from the Balkans—to join the conflict. This is illegal in Serbia. The Serbian government has actually prosecuted citizens for fighting in foreign wars, and Berić knows he can't really go home without facing a jail cell. He has basically burned his bridges and built a new life in the Donbass and Russia.
The Controversy of Foreign Fighters
The presence of a Serbian sniper in Ukraine isn't just a local issue. It’s a geopolitical nightmare. Serbia wants to join the EU, but it has deep historical and emotional ties to Russia. When people like Berić become the face of the conflict, it puts Belgrade in a very awkward position.
Is he a mercenary? Under many legal definitions, yes. He has received housing, status, and presumably some form of compensation from the separatist and Russian administrations. However, he frames himself as a volunteer. This distinction is the difference between a prison sentence and a medal, depending on which side of the border you're standing on.
Ukraine has placed him on several wanted lists, including the infamous Mirotvorets database. They view him as a terrorist. To them, he isn't a "sniper"; he’s a target. There have been multiple reports of his death or capture over the years. Every time, he pops back up on Telegram, usually with a smirk and a new rifle, to prove he’s still alive. It’s a game of psychological warfare.
Tactics and Reality in the Trenches
The Donbass conflict, specifically between 2014 and 2022, was characterized by static trench warfare. It was very similar to World War I, but with drones and thermal optics. In this environment, a sniper is terrifying. You can't stick your head up for a cigarette. You can't move between bunkers during the day.
📖 Related: What Really Happened With the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz
El francotirador de Donbass operated in this "gray zone." His job wasn't just about taking lives; it was about "area denial." If you know a high-tier sniper is in your sector, your morale plummets. You stop being aggressive. You become static.
But we should also be skeptical. A lot of his "confirmed kills" come from his own accounts or state-aligned media. In the fog of war, numbers are always inflated. Was he a good shot? Probably. Was he the "deadliest sniper in history" like some fanboys claim? Almost certainly not. He was, however, the most marketable sniper.
The Shift After 2022
When the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Berić's role shifted again. He wasn't just a lone wolf in the trenches anymore. He became more of an organizer and a recruiter for the "Wolf" unit, helping to bring in more Serbs to fight for the Russian side.
However, it hasn't all been glory and medals. In late 2023 and early 2024, Berić made headlines for a different reason: he started complaining. He posted a video where he openly criticized the treatment of Serbian volunteers by Russian commanders. He claimed they were being treated like "meat," denied proper equipment, and even physically abused.
This was a huge "mask off" moment. It showed that even the poster child for the el francotirador de Donbass legend wasn't immune to the brutal internal politics of the Russian military machine. It cracked the facade of the "united Slavic brotherhood" he had spent a decade building.
Why Does This Matter to You?
You might be wondering why you should care about a sniper in a conflict thousands of miles away. It matters because Berić represents the future of warfare—where the battlefield is half dirt and half digital.
If you are following this topic, you need to look past the "cool sniper" aesthetic. You have to look at how information is used to justify violence. Berić is a primary example of how one person can be used as a lever to move public opinion across entire countries.
👉 See also: How Much Did Trump Add to the National Debt Explained (Simply)
Actionable Insights for Researching Modern Conflict
If you're trying to separate fact from fiction regarding the el francotirador de Donbass or similar figures, here is how you should approach it:
Check the Source Origin
Most information about Berić comes from either RT (Russia Today) or Ukrainian state media. Both have an agenda. If you see a "confirmed kill" report, look for third-party verification from groups like Bellingcat or independent journalists who have actually been in the sector.
Look for Legal Context
Research the "Foreign Fighters" laws in the country of the person's origin. For Berić, look into the Serbian Criminal Code Article 386a, which forbids participation in foreign wars. This tells you why he stays where he is.
Follow the Gear
Military buffs can often tell where a fighter is by their equipment. If you see a fighter with gear that isn't standard issue for their rank, they are likely being used for propaganda or are part of a specialized "show" unit.
Monitor Telegram, but with Caution
Telegram is the rawest source of info, but it's a minefield of "maskirovka" (deception). Berić’s own channel is a great way to see what he wants you to think, but always compare his claims with the actual front-line maps provided by groups like DeepState or the ISW (Institute for the Study of War).
The story of the sniper of Donbass isn't over yet. Whether he survives the current stage of the war or becomes another casualty of the attrition, his impact on how we perceive foreign volunteers and the "influencer-soldier" is already set in stone. He’s a reminder that in 2026, the person behind the scope is also the person behind the camera.