Dejan Beric, known for the Kosovo war, uses YouTube to spread propaganda for Russia

Dejan Berić, a Serbian mercenary who was previously deployed in Kosovo, has been fighting on the side of pro-Russian forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic since 2014. His role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine is not only military, but also propaganda, as he has become a prominent figure in the pro-Russian media, using his influence to spread propaganda and recruit foreign fighters, mainly from Serbia.

He recently gave an interview to a YouTube channel, where he made a series of claims that attempt to blame the West and cover up Russian aggression in Ukraine. Beric claims that Russia is at war with 52 countries and that the Ukrainian army was destroyed in the first three months of the conflict, and that the majority of the fighters are now foreign mercenaries. His statements are often used to spread disinformation and justify the Russian military action in Ukraine.

Beric gained notoriety during the fighting in Kosovo, where he became known as a mercenary sniper. Known as Deki, he is now fighting in Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian forces, luring young Serbs to join the conflict in Eastern Europe with the promise of cash rewards.

In addition to his active military role, Beric is also active in the media sphere, using platforms such as YouTube and Telegram to spread pro-Russian views and disinformation about the war in Ukraine. His role in promoting Russian interests makes him a key figure in the information battle of the conflict.

Beric has been honoured several times by extremists from Donetsk and the Russian defence ministry, notably with the Russian medal “For the return of Crimea”. He also became a confidential agent of dictator Vladimir Putin for the 2024 presidential campaign, further strengthening his role as a propagandist in the service of Russian interests./The Geopost/