Son of Kremlin spokesman says he served with Wagner's Russian mercenary force

The son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Nikolai Peskov, says he served in the Russian Wagner mercenary force in Ukraine. "I considered it my duty... I couldn't sit on the sidelines and watch friends and other people go there," Peskov said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. "When I went there, I had to change my last name. 

He said she served nearly six months and was awarded the Medal of Valor. CNN was unable to independently verify the claims. Why it's noteworthy: The children of figures in Russia's government and elite have been targeted in the past for not fighting in Ukraine or going to the front. More background: Nikolai Peskov's interview comes after Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Friday the Kremlin spokesman's son had served as a gunner with his mercenary force. Prigozhin did not specify what period he was talking about. According to Prigozhin, Nikolai Peskov served in the Wagner group for six months under false documents under a different surname, working as a loader for an ammunition supply vehicle. Wagner's boss said Peskov underwent three-week training at his base in Molkino and then "went to Lugansk".

Wagner's outspoken boss has a history of making unsubstantiated claims, often using sarcasm, and CNN is unable to verify his claim. CNN has reached out to Dmitry Peskov for comment but has not yet heard back. "You're a man. Be him," says Russian military video as Moscow tries to turn more civilians into fighters

Russia's Defense Ministry has unveiled a new effort to bolster its forces fighting in Ukraine: an advertising campaign calling on Russians to become "real men" and stressing the financial benefits of registering. The video, posted on Telegram, shows three men.

The first is a security guard. "Is this the kind of defender you wanted to become?" he asks for the voiceover. A fitness instructor is seen below, along with the caption: "Is your power really in this?"

Then a taxi driver, with the question: "Is this the kind of road you wanted to choose?"

Finally, the three men are shown in full military gear. The slogan \"You are a man. Be him\" appears. Key context: Russia is known to have difficulty recruiting for its war. President Putin signed laws making it more difficult to evade conscription earlier this month. During Russia's partial mobilization last September, men evaded the draft by leaving their addresses on file, not signing draft letters and warning their families to do the same. Putin's move to block such loopholes has raised fears in Russia that more citizens will soon be mobilized to fight in Ukraine. The UK's Defense Ministry hinted at Russia's new video campaign in its latest update, saying it was "highly unlikely" that the campaign would attract the 400,000 volunteers Russia is seeking.