Nikolay Peskov, the son of Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Russian president, has claimed that he participated in the Ukraine War with PMC Wagner as he gave an interview to Komsomolskaya Pravda.
“When I made the decision to participate in the special military operation, I did not know how to get there correctly. Because when it all started, there was not as much information as it is now. So, yes, I had to go to my father. I asked him how I can properly contact the PMC. And he helped me with this,” said Dmitry Peskov’s son.
He also said that he was “virtually obliged” to take part in the hostilities, and his family supported him despite the worries: “They asked me if I realised where I was going. I said yes, and they welcomed my decision.”
Peskov Jr. also says that he was decorated with a Medal for Valour.
“My entire crew committed an act of bravery. We had one interesting ride out there, but I can’t share more details,” he said.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of PMC Wagner, stated yesterday that Putin’s spokesman contacted him last summer since his son was “going to war and couldn’t be talked out of this”.
“I advised him against joining the regular military, as he would sit there at the headquarters or be used as cannon fodder. I used forged documents to let him join us with a completely made-up name. Only I and the head of the personnel department knew about this,” Prigozhin said.
He claims that Peskov did three weeks of training at the Molkino ground as a “navigator” because “he wanted to be a navigator.” According to Prigozhin, when Peskov left for Luhansk, it was necessary to expand the artillery division, so he was appointed a member of the Uragan multiple launch rocket system crew. Peskov, as Prigozhin said, was tasked with loading ammunition supply vehicles.
After six months of service, Peskov was granted a vacation leave, Prigozhin says.
Following Vladimir Putin’s declared mobilisation on 21 September 2022, Peskov’s son Nikolay received a call from Dmitry Nizovtsev of the Popular Politics YouTube channel who introduced himself as a military commissar and claimed that Peskov Jr. had received an enlistment notice.
Nikolay refused to appear at the draft office: “If you know that I am Mr. Peskov, you must understand how incorrect it would be for me to go there. I will solve this issue at a different level,” Nikolay Peskov said.
The spokesman’s son said he needed to “understand what’s going on” and “what rights he had”.
“I have no problem defending my homeland but I need to understand the expediency of my appearance there. I am telling you about certain political nuances,” Nikolay concluded.
Dmitry Peskov said that the sense bearing part was cut out of the conversation.
