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{{Short description|Serbian soldier (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Dejan Berić
| native_name   = Dejan Berić
| image         = Dejan Berić.png
| caption       = Berić in 2019
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1974|9|25|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Putinci]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| nickname      = Deki
| allegiance    = {{flag|Russia}} (2014)<br>{{flag|Donetsk People's Republic}}
| rank          = [[Major (rank)|Major]]
| branch        = [[DPR People's Militia]]
| battles       = [[Bosnian War]] <br> [[Kosovo War]] <br> [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Annexation of Crimea]]<br>[[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|War in Donbas]]
| awards        = [[Medal "For the Return of Crimea"]]
| serviceyears  = 2014–present
}}
'''Dejan Berić''' ({{Lang-sr-Cyrl|Дејан Берић}}, {{Langx|ru|Деян Берич}}; born 25 September 1974), simply known as '''Deki''' (Деки)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Сербский снайпер Деки заявил о сборе добровольцев в ДНР|url=https://news-r.ru/news/politics/505532/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-11|website=news-r.ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411005742/https://news-r.ru/news/politics/505532/ |archive-date=2021-04-11 }}</ref> is a Serbian volunteer in the [[Russian Separatist forces in Donbas|forces]] of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] with the rank of [[Major (rank)|Major]], who is fighting as a sniper in the ongoing [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref>{{Citation |title=A war hero for Russia, a war criminal for Vučić and his "media" |url=https://srbin.info/en/politika/dejan-beric-za-rusiju-ratni-heroj-za-vucica-i-njegove-medije-ratni-zlocinac/ |language=en |access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref>
== Biography ==
=== Early life and business career ===
Berić was born on 25 September 1974 in the village of [[Putinci]] in [[Serbia]]. Until 2013, Berić owned a carpentry company, which operated for a few years. Allegedly, after it accrued heavy debts, Berić fired the workers and suddenly left the village.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Laketić|first=M.|title=ISTINA Ko je Dejan Berić, odlikovani proruski dobrovoljac iz Putinaca|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/istina-ko-je-dejan-beric-odlikovani-proruski-dobrovoljac-iz-putinaca/e0q5smw|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Blic.rs|language=sr}}</ref> {{Unreliable source?|date=October 2022}} His wife and son live in Putinci and support themselves from his mother's pension. His father died a few years earlier in [[Russia]], on the construction site where he worked.<ref name=":0" />
=== Crimea and the war in Donbas ===
Prior to the [[2014 Winter Olympics]], Berić worked in [[Sochi]] on constructing the [[Sochi Olympic Park|Olympic Village]]. Following the Olympics, Berić was recruited by Russian special services, left for [[Crimea]] and participated in its subsequent [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation by Russia]]. For this he was awarded the [[Medal "For the Return of Crimea"|For the Return of Crimea]] medal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Зі снайперів – у журналісти: казус "Декі" |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2738945-zi-snajperiv-u-zurnalisti-kazus-deki.html |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.ukrinform.ua |language=uk}}</ref>
After the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] started, Berić travelled to Ukraine through [[Sevastopol]] and joined the forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic as a sniper.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrej Mlakar|date=2018-01-27|title=RAT DRUGIM OČIMA|url=https://www.ekspres.net/brejking/rat-drugim-ocima|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Ekspres.net|language=en-US}}</ref> According to the Ukrainian government, Berić was a mercenary leader of a sniper squad that has sought to kill members of the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] at the line of separation.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ukrajinski mediji: snajperisti iz Srbije došli u Donjeck |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/394828/Hronika/Ukrajinski-mediji-snajperisti-iz-Srbije-dosli-u-Donjeck|language=sh|access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref> Berić received several decorations from the Donetsk People's Republic for his war merits,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dejan Berić dobio i šesto odlikovanje Novorusije|url=https://arhiva.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Srbija/460877/Dejan-Beric-dobio-i-sesto-odlikovanje-Novorusije|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Vesti online|language=en}}</ref> such as for killing Ukrainian snipers and shooting down spy drones. He was captured in July 2014 on the road between [[Luhansk|Lugansk]] and the [[Russia–Ukraine border|Russian-Ukrainian border]]. His freedom was paid for, so he continued to fight.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cvijić|first=Vuk Z.|title=PSI RATA Popisani dobrovoljci u Ukrajini i Siriji, u Srbiji ih čeka robija|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/psi-rata-popisani-dobrovoljci-u-ukrajini-i-siriji-u-srbiji-ih-ceka-robija/4gm1kjz|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Blic.rs|language=sr}}</ref> It was reported that he was wounded in combat in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Рањен мајор Војске ДНР Дејан Берић|url=http://www.vostok.rs/index.php?option=btg_novosti&catnovosti=7&idnovost=109027&Ranjen-major-Vojske-DNR-Dejan-Beric&fb_comment_id=1743462349010449_1743938425629508|access-date=2021-04-11|website=ВОСТОК вести|language=sr-rs}}</ref>
The [[Security Intelligence Agency|national intelligence agency of Serbia]] included Berić on the list of war mercenaries and considers him a threat to Serbia's national security,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Vučić: Srpski plaćenici u Ukrajini štete Srbiji|url=https://mondo.rs/Info/Srbija/a718007/Aleksandar-Vucic-Srpski-placenici-u-Ukrajini-stete-Srbiji.html|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Mondo Portal|language=sr}}</ref> and in accordance with the Serbian laws, Berić could receive a multi-year prison sentence if he returns or if he is arrested and extradited to Serbia.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title='Novinarstvo' srpskog dobrovoljca iz Ukrajine|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/dobrovoljac-srbija-ukrajina-rat-dejan-beric/29802934.html|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Radio Slobodna Evropa|date=5 March 2019 |language=sh}}</ref>
Berić has appeared in pro-Russian media, inviting young people to join him.<ref name=":0" /> After the ceasefire in Donbas, Berić has been away from the front lines and has been increasingly present in the Russian media, including the mainstream media. He is usually presented to the Russian public as a hero and the most highly decorated fighter. He most often comments on the situation in eastern Ukraine and [[Kosovo]], calling the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] and the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] spies and [[NATO]] a terrorist organization.<ref name=":2" /> Berić was present at a press conference by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman [[Maria Zakharova]] in Moscow. Berić asked her questions about the conflict in eastern Ukraine and Russia's position on [[Kosovo]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sniper Deki who turned into a journalist|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2740372-sniper-deki-who-turned-into-a-journaliie.html|access-date=2021-04-11|website=www.ukrinform.net|language=en}}</ref>
In March 2021, Berić announced that he is returning to the front lines due to the increased tensions between Ukraine and Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Блогеры ОРДО: В Донецк вернулся снайпер Деян Берич. Будет "зарабатывать" на передовой|url=https://donpress.com/news/29-03-2021-blogery-ordo-v-doneck-vernulsya-snayper-deyan-berich-budet-zarabatyvat-na-peredovoy|access-date=2021-04-11|website=DonPress|language=ru}}</ref>
Inspired by his war experiences, he wrote the book "''When the Dead Speak''",<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.delfi.rs/knjige/81877_kad_mrtvi_progovore_knjiga_delfi_knjizare.html|title=Kad mrtvi progovore - Dejan Berić {{!}} Delfi knjižare|language=en}}</ref> and a documentary film by [[Olya Schechter]], called "''A Sniper's War"'' was filmed about him.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Маричић|first=Александар|title=Александар Маричић: "Рат снајпериста" - документарни филм Оље Шехтер о Дејану Берићу|url=http://www.nspm.rs/kulturna-politika/rat-snajperista-dokumentarni-film-olje-sehter-o-dejanu-bericu.html?alphabet=l|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Нова српска политичка мисао|language=sr-rs}}</ref>
=== 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
After Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Berić was reportedly assigned the task of recruiting new Serbian fighters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redakcija |date=2022-12-14 |title=(VIDEO) Srpski dobrovoljci na ukrajinskom frontu: "Kosovo se ovdje brani. Tako nam Bog pomogao i ruska artiljerija" - Istraga .ba |trans-title=(VIDEO) Serbian volunteers on the Ukrainian front: "Kosovo is being defended here. So help us God and the Russian artillery" |url=https://istraga.ba/video-srpski-dobrovoljci-na-ukrajinskom-frontu-kosovo-se-ovdje-brani-tako-nam-bog-pomogao-i-ruska-artiljerija/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Istraga |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2022, Berić met with, and interviewed, alleged newly arrived Serbian volunteers.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Glavonjić |first1=Zoran |last2=Gočanin |first2=Sonja |date=2023-01-16 |title=Da li su novi borci iz Srbije otišli da se bore u Ukrajinu? |language=sh |trans-title=Did new fighters from Serbia go to fight in Ukraine? |work=Radio Slobodna Evropa |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-borci-ukrajina-rusija/32225401.html |access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref>
== Awards ==
{{Empty section|date=July 2022}}
Medal 'Return of Crimea'{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Medal 'Russian Hero'{{fact|date=May 2023}}
== References ==
<references />
{{commons category|Dejan Berić}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beric, Dejan}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ruma]]
[[Category:Pro-Russian people of the war in Donbas]]
[[Category:Snipers]]
[[Category:Pro-Russia foreign volunteers in the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Serbian military personnel]]