Putin's Closest Ally's Son Refuses Military Conscription... Russian Citizens Attempt to Escape Mobilization Order

Kremlin Spokesman's Son "Will Not Join the Military"
First Anti-War Protests Across Russia Since the Outbreak

President Putin issued a partial mobilization order targeting reservists on the morning of the 21st under the pretext of protecting sovereignty and territory, sparking protests against the move across Russia. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] On the 21st (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists for the war in Ukraine. It has been revealed that the son of one of President Putin's closest aides also refused conscription.

On the 21st, during a live broadcast on a YouTube channel reportedly operated by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's team, the host called Nikolai Peskov, the son of Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman and one of President Putin's closest aides.

The YouTube host, introducing himself as a major from the Moscow conscription office, told Nikolai, "You are subject to conscription," and "You must come to the military enlistment office by 10 a.m. tomorrow."

In response, Nikolai said, "If you know that I am 'Peskov,' you would understand how wrong it is for me to be there," and added, "I will not go to the military enlistment office tomorrow."

He continued, "I will resolve this issue at a different level," and said, "It is not a problem for me to defend my homeland, but you need to consider the possibility of me coming there." He further added, "It is necessary to understand whether it is possible for me to be there (in the military). I am talking about certain political nuances."

This is interpreted as a refusal to comply with the mobilization order through his father's power. It is also reported that Nikolai answered "No" when asked if he agreed to volunteer for the war.

Additionally, Nikolai reportedly said, "I am ready to go (to the battlefield), but I will not go at your request. If President Putin tells me to go, I will."

The live broadcast, which lasted about five minutes, drew explosive reactions, recording approximately 2 million views within 20 hours.

Meanwhile, President Putin drew attention by abruptly announcing the military mobilization order on the same day, stating, "We will mobilize all means to protect Russia." This is the first time a mobilization order has been issued in Russia since World War II. Flights were sold out as people tried to flee Russia to avoid the mobilization order, and the first anti-war protests since the outbreak of the war occurred across Russia.