The son of Dmitry Peskov, who serves as the presidential press secretary in Russia, Nikolai has reportedly spent time in a covert operations zone connected to the Wagner private military company. This claim comes from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner, who publicly described Nikolai Peskov’s involvement as part of a limited, behind-the-scenes assignment. According to Prigozhin’s press service, the operation at the hurricane facility involved a transport-loader role, and the vehicle they used functioned effectively in its duties. This account underscores a level of operational detail that few outsiders typically access, and it was presented by Concord, the corporate entity linked to Prigozhin.
According to Prigozhin, only he and the head of the personnel department were aware that Peskov’s son was serving with the Wagner-affiliated structure. Prigozhin added that Nikolai demonstrated acts of heroism and courage during his service, attributes that the entrepreneur highlighted in discussing his son’s experience. A newspaper profile carried by Komsomolskaya Pravda featured an interview with Nikolai Peskov in which the interviewee stated that his origin lay in the NVO region and described joining the Wagner organization as a personal choice made with deliberate intent. He also noted that his father assisted in establishing contact with Prigozhin’s network, albeit without providing further details. The piece reflected that his family, as a whole, was concerned about his decision, revealing the emotional stakes involved for relatives when a member joins such operations.
Nikolai explained that, upon arrival at the unit, he chose to adopt a different surname to reduce recognition and simplify everyday interactions within the environment where many knew people by first names rather than family names. He suggested that using a name rather than a surname facilitated smoother communication in a setting where anonymity could offer a practical advantage. This admission was shared during conversations with the interviewer, illustrating the practical realities of operating in a close-knit, high-stakes milieu.
The interviewer, named Aleksei Gamov in the article, questioned whether Peskov’s son had used the surname Budyonny at any point, given his conspiracy-linked narrative and the historical ties to Soviet Marshal Semyon Budyonny through family history. Nikolai denied the specific last name, though he did not elaborate, indicating that there could be reasons to withhold certain details. When pressed about the appearance of a certain Russian surname, he responded affirmatively in generic terms, acknowledging the cultural roots of the surname as Russian without going into further commentary.
The KP.RU report also touched on Peskov’s son addressing questions from reporters in September regarding partial mobilization. He described the moment as one of preparation for what he anticipated would be a ceremonial trip, explaining that the timing prompted a nervous reaction and a somewhat impulsive comment, which he later downplayed as not reflecting a firm intention to participate. The emphasis remained that his stance was not a repudiation of national service, but rather a reaction shaped by the surrounding political and organizational context, with later remarks clarifying that there was no lasting implication for his views.
In September 2022, the political landscape in Russia saw a notable interaction involving someone who identified as working with the military registry and enlistment office, a figure associated with opposition activities and labeled as a foreign agent by local authorities. This individual reached out to Peskov’s son with a request to appear at a designated time and location. Nikolai stated that he would not attend the meeting at the requested time, and suggested that there were misunderstandings about his presence, asserting that any claim of his attendance at the office would be unfounded. He emphasized that the matter should be resolved through different channels, implying that the approach lacked authenticity or relevance to his actual position.
Later discussions attributed to Dmitry Peskov, via the Rise Telegram channel, indicated that some portions of the conversation had been edited or omitted without thorough discussion. The Kremlin spokesperson asserted that there was no doubt about his son’s right to make his own judgments and that the overall direction of his choice should be respected, underscoring the importance of personal agency within a highly sensitive environment.
Until 2019, Nikolai was known by a different family name, Choles, reflecting his stepfather’s surname, who is of British citizenship. Reports from Business Online suggest that Nikolai Peskov spent part of his life in the United Kingdom since the 1990s before returning to Russia to work for a period as a correspondent for RT and as a creative director at Fight Nights. Additional accounts note that he served in the Strategic Missile Forces between 2010 and 2012, a period that aligns with his broader public-recorded career path. The interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda did not disclose specifics about the particular operations he participated in, but Nikolai stressed that his work has required substantial effort and commitment, and he mentioned having received a medal for courage. These details collectively sketch a portrait of a person navigating a complex personal and national security terrain, with family history and public service intersecting in ways that attract significant attention.
In closing, Nikolai Peskov spoke candidly about his professional life and the challenges that come with a career that intersects with high-profile public service and shadowed military contexts. While the narrative includes assertive claims about his contributions and roles, it remains embedded in a broader discourse about national identity, personal risk, and the costs of public service for families connected to the highest levels of government, as reported by contemporary Russian media outlets and investigative writers linked to these themes.