The film has faced significant criticism and varying interpretations:
Critics note that by focusing solely on Deki, the film lacks the perspective of Ukrainian victims of Russian-backed attacks.
(released internationally as A Sniper’s War ) is a 2018 documentary directed by Olya Schechter. It provides a raw, controversial look at the conflict in Donbas through the eyes of Dejan "Deki" Berić, a Serbian volunteer sniper fighting for pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. The Human Cost of Ideology
The film centers on Deki's personal motivations, driven by a deep-seated hatred for NATO and the West following the 1990s bombings in his native Serbia. By embedding with separatist units for three years, Schechter captures the "new normal" of a region where violence is commonplace and survival is the only priority. Modern Warfare and Social Media