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
Critics note that by focusing solely on Deki, the film lacks the perspective of Ukrainian victims of Russian-backed attacks. Snajperski rat (2018.)
While some viewers see it as a pro-Russian propaganda tool , others view it as an intimate character study of a man shaped by historical trauma. The film centers on Deki's personal motivations, driven
The documentary repeatedly poses the central question: is Deki a soldier defending his beliefs or a killer consumed by vengeance?. 'A Sniper's War' - The Santa Barbara Independent While some viewers see it as a pro-Russian
A unique aspect of the documentary is the role of digital communication in 21st-century combat. The film depicts "sniper duels" where Deki and his rivals taunt each other via social media, turning lethal warfare into a personalized, public spectacle. Ethical and Political Controversy
The film has faced significant criticism and varying interpretations:
(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