Dmitry Peskov's 33-year-old son has revealed that he spent close to six months serving with the Wagner private military company in Ukraine.

Nikolai Peskov stated that he felt obligated to join the Wagner group, citing his inability to stand idly by while his peers and acquaintances were involved in the conflict in Ukraine. The Wagner organization, referred to as a private military company in Russia, has gained global infamy for purported war crimes and other violations in Ukraine. After incurring significant losses, it has reportedly enlisted several thousand inmates from correctional facilities.

Joining Wagner is an uncommon choice among members of the Russian elite who often seek to avoid military conscription by traveling overseas. Nikolai Peskov, also known as Nikolai Choles, possesses fluent English skills, having spent a number of years in London during his youth. He has previously served as a correspondent for the Russian state-owned media outlet RT. It is noteworthy that both Nikolai and his father are currently subject to sanctions imposed by the US.

During an interview with the pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, Nikolai Peskov stated that he made the independent decision to join Wagner, but was unsure of the necessary procedure and thus sought assistance from his father. He disclosed that he utilized a fabricated identity to avoid detection of his ties to the Kremlin by his fellow Wagner members. As he may require the use of the pseudonym in the future, he did not disclose it during the interview. The BBC was unable to corroborate his assertion regarding his service with Wagner, a group whose soldiers have been embroiled in extensive conflict for several months in Bakhmut. Ukraine has claimed that its defenders in Bakhmut have killed numerous Russian troops.

Nikolai Peskov's statement coincides with a significant military recruitment campaign, which features state-sponsored advertisements imploring Russian men to fulfill their "patriotic duty" by participating in the Ukrainian conflict. In September of the previous year, tens of thousands of individuals left Russia to evade conscription following President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a "partial mobilization".

Nikolai Peskov did not disclose the precise location of his participation in Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. However, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, provided more detailed information regarding the matter in comments made to Russian media. After using forged documents to join the group, Mr. Peskov's son completed a three-week training course, after which he was dispatched to Luhansk to assist in the expansion of a combined artillery battalion. Mr. Prigozhin remarked that Mr. Peskov displayed bravery and heroism like his comrades. According to Mr. Prigozhin, Dmitry Peskov requested that his son be enlisted as a simple artilleryman.

According to Nikolai Peskov, he and his team accomplished a noteworthy feat, which resulted in him receiving a bravery medal earlier this year. However, he refrained from providing additional details, stating that he cannot disclose information about a specific sortie. In September of the previous year, Nikolai was the subject of a prank call on YouTube in which he was unwilling to join the army. Dmitry Nizovtsev, a journalist associated with incarcerated Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, impersonated a military recruiter during the call and asked Nikolai why he did not attend a Moscow call-up center in a hostile tone. In a nervous tone, Nikolai responded by reminding Nizovtsev that he is Mr. Peskov.

In response to the situation, Nikolai Peskov stated that he plans to escalate the issue to ensure that he understands the situation and his rights. Russian military bloggers and Mr Prigozhin have been highly critical of Russian generals in Ukraine, blaming them for mistakes and the lack of adequate equipment provided to Wagner. Prigozhin also claimed that military officials failed to acknowledge the group's contributions. However, last month, President Putin banned public criticism of the Russian military, including Wagner and regular armed forces. Those who "discredit" any part of the military face up to seven years in prison.