Son of Kremlin spokesman Peskov says he served in Ukraine
The son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Nikolai Peskov, has claimed in an interview with Russian media that he decided to serve in Ukraine with Russia's Wagner mercenary force.
CNN
In an interview with Russian press, Nikolai Peskov - the son of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov - claimed that he had decided to serve with Russia's Wagner military mercenary unit in Ukraine.
Peskov told the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda that he felt it was his duty to go. 'I couldn't just sit by and watch my friends and others go there', he said.
When I went to the country, I changed my last name. No one knew me.
He claimed to have served for almost six months, and was awarded the Medal for Courage.
CNN was unable to independently verify these claims.
In the past, children of Russian elite and government figures have been criticized for not fighting in Ukraine.
Nikolai Peskov gave the interview after Yevgeny Prgozhin, the Wagner chief on Friday, claimed that the Kremlin's spokesperson's child had been a gunner in his mercenary forces.
Prigozhin didn't specify the period of time he was referring to.
According to Prigozhin Nikolai Peskov worked as a loader in an ammunition supply vehicle for PMC Wagner under false documents, with a different name. Wagner's chief claimed that Peskov had attended a training of three weeks at the base in Molkino, and then 'left for Luhansk'.