Nikolai Peskov, Dmitry Peskov’s 33-year-old son, worked in Ukraine with Wagner Group, a private military firm (PMC) notorious for supplying mercenary services to Russia. Nikolai stated in an interview with Russian media that he served in Ukraine because he “couldn’t sit on the sidelines and watch friends and other people go there,” according to CNN. The Wagner organisation has been accused of a slew of human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and other atrocities against people.
“I considered it my duty,” Peskov told the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda
“I considered it my duty,” Peskov told the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. “When I went there, I had to change my last name. Nobody really knew who I was.” Nikolai stated that he served with Wagner for approximately six months and was also awarded the Medal of Courage. During the interview, Nikolai revealed to the newspaper that he couldn’t figure out how to serve in Ukraine on his own and had to “turn to my dad… and he helped me with that.” During the discussion, it was not clear what name he used while serving with Wagner. He stated that he might have to use the bogus name he had previously used.
This comes after the Wagner organization’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated on Friday that the Kremlin spokesperson’s son had served as a gunner with the outfit. Prigozhin claims Nikolai Peskov worked as a loader for an ammunition delivery vehicle at PMC Wagner for six months while using bogus papers with a different last name. According to the Wagner commander, Peskov went through a three-week training session at their base in Molkino.
“After that, when he left for Luhansk, it was necessary to expand the combined artillery battalion, and he was sent to join an Uragan [multiple rocket launcher] crew,” Prigozhin said, adding Nikolai “showed courage and heroism, just like all the others”. Russia’s elite and children of government officials have already come under fire for refusing to fight in Ukraine.
Nikolai, also known as Nikolai Choles, is fluent in English, having resided in London for several years
Nikolai Peskov, also known as Nikolai Choles, is fluent in English, having resided in London for several years. He has worked as a correspondent for the Russian media portal RT. US sanctions also apply to him and his father. In September, the son of a Kremlin spokeswoman fell victim to a live YouTube scam in which he appeared to be hesitant to serve in the Ukraine war. Dmitry Nizovtsev, an associate of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, pretended to be a military recruitment officer over the phone. Nizovtsev obnoxiously asked Nikolai why he hadn’t appeared at a Moscow call-up center.
“I’m Mr. Peskov”, Nikolai remarked uneasily in response to Nizovtsev. “I’m going to take this matter to another level,” Nikolai said. “I need to know what’s going on and what my rights are,” he added.