Vladimir Putin's reported call with a commander raises authenticity doubts
The Kremlin released a transcript of a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and a military commander to demonstrate control over the front lines in Ukraine. In the recording, the commander identifies himself as Colonel Abdulaziz Shikhabidov, the head of the elite 76th Guards Air Assault Division, and reports on the military situation in Pokrowsk and Dobropillia.
However, the authenticity of the call has been heavily questioned by analysts and Russian media. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and various Russian sources report that Shikhabidov has been dead since May 2025, with reports of his funeral in Kaspiysk and Dagestan. The current commander of the 76th Guards Division is identified as Denis Shishov.
The discrepancy has raised significant questions regarding the accuracy of the information provided to the Russian leadership and the potential use of fabricated communications for state propaganda. While the transcript was intended to show progress and stability, it has instead highlighted potential gaps in intelligence and communication within the Russian military command.
Entities: 76th Guards Air Assault Division · Abdulaziz Shikhabidov · Denis Shishov · Dobropillia · Institute for the Study of War · Pokrovsk · Vladimir Putin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Russian forces lost 2.23 square kilometers in the Dobropillia tactical area in June 2026. (Institute for the Study of War (ISW))
- [● 4 SOURCES] The commander identified himself as Colonel Abdulaziz Shikhabidov, head of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. (The Kremlin)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The commander in the call reported the capture of Pokrowsk and discussed the situation in Dobropillia. (Kremlin transcript)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Colonel Shikhabidov reportedly died in May 2025. (Russian sources and investigative outlets)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The current commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division is Denis Shishov. (Institute for the Study of War (ISW))