According to Wagner’s private army, the son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov fought alongside their mercenaries in the Russian war against Ukraine. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on Saturday that Peskov himself had contacted him about the war effort.
He therefore advised the confidante of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin not to send his son to the regular troops of the Defense Ministry. The Wagner boss repeatedly criticizes the poor equipment and inadequate training and leadership of the soldiers.
After three weeks of training, Peskov’s son served under a false name as an artilleryman in the contested Luhansk region, said Prigozhin, who praised the deployment as exemplary.
The children of most representatives of the Russian elite shied away from the war effort. “The parents hide them,” complained the 61-year-old. The sons would be sent to the university, where they would be released from service with the gun. On the other hand, the children of workers would die in the war.
Prigozhin provided no evidence of the use of Peskov’s son, who had lived in Britain for a long time and was subject to Western sanctions. Peskow, who usually reacts quickly, did not react to the news, which was also picked up by the state media. Prigozhin said that Peskov tried to talk his son out of going to war.
Nobody in the troops knew about the action. “Only I knew about it and the head of the cadre service,” said Prigozhin. “He showed courage and heroism – just like everyone else.”
Now Peskow’s son is on vacation after six months of service. The Wagner boss repeatedly advertises that he treats, equips and pays his fighters better than the regular Russian army does its soldiers. (dpa)
