The Ukraine crisis

Peskov often acts as President Vladimir Putin’s own press spokesman and is said to have personally approached Prigozhin to talk about his son’s war service.

The Wagner boss says he advised Peskov against letting his son serve in the regular forces. Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized the Russian army for poor equipment, weak leadership and insufficient efforts on the battlefield.

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Prigozhin also said that the children of members of the Russian elite are evading military service by their parents hiding them away. The sons of leading politicians are sent to universities where they are exempted from military service, while the children of working people die in the war, Prigozhin pointed out.

The Wagner boss has not submitted any documentation about his representation of the contact with Peskov. The press spokesman, who is otherwise quick to react to outbursts, has not commented on the statements that were reproduced by several state media at the weekend.

Peskov’s son, Nikolai Peskov, lived for many years in Great Britain under the name Nikolai Choles. He has told the tabloid newspaper KP in Moscow that he has served in the Luhansk region out of a sense of duty.

The newspaper has shown a picture of the 33-year-old in full uniform. Critics doubt the story, saying that this does not prove that he actually participated in the war.

Prigozhin says Peskov’s son served as an artillery soldier in the Luhansk region under a false name after three weeks of training. Wagner commanders praise his military efforts and describe them as exemplary.