This week, the author-turned-commander Zakhar Prilepin, whom the @DFRLab has extensively written about, posted a photograph on his social media accounts showing a meeting with Peter von Berg, an actor most well-known for playing Russians on House of Cards and The Americans.

Translated from Russian: “American actor Peter von Berg was visiting terrorists here.” (Source: Twitter / ZaharPrilepin)

Peter von Berg has been in a number of film, television, and theater productions, where he often plays a Russian character due to his strong command of the language. He was born in the Soviet Union, and moved to the United States as a child.

Peter von Berg as Rezident of the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C., “Vasili Nikolaevich”. (Source: The Americans on FX / The Americans Wiki)

Peter von Berg as Russian Foreign Minister Ivan Bugayevin “House of Cards”. (Source: “House of Cards” on Netflix / DAN-News)

Was this appearance by von Berg with the “leaders” of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic a random occurrence, or part of a larger pattern of behavior?

Donetsk visit

Peter von Berg met with the “leader” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DNR) and Prilepin — who commands a military unit loyal to Zakharchenko — as part of a larger visit to Donetsk. The actor was quoted by separatist news outlet DAN-News and relayed he was invited by an unidentified “friend”. He said:

“I arrived two days ago on my friend’s invitation. I plan on being in Donetsk until April 15th. I haven’t had time yet to become acquainted with the city, but I have already seen locations that have been shelled.”

The Donetsk theater published a series of photographs, which showed von Berg teaching acting techniques to actors and students.

Faces of non-adults made more anonymous via redaction. (Source: DAN-News)

Along with his theater appearance, von Berg visited Zakharchenko (far-right) and Prilepin (far-left) in Donetsk.

(Source: Facebook / Zakhar Prilepin)

When asked about why he was visiting, Prilepin said that he was there “out of interest” on invitation from a “friend.”

(Source: Facebook / Zakhar Prilepin)

The actor gave an interview with the television channel Union about the Donbas.