Propaganda Shame: Putin 'Talked' to a General Who Died a Year Ago

The Kremlin released an audio recording of Putin's conversation with Colonel Shikhabidov, who allegedly reported the capture of Pokrovsk and other cities. However, ISW established that Shikhabidov died in May 2025, and the real division commander is Denis Shishov. Analysts consider the claimed successes impossible and see this as a sign of Putin's disinformation.

The Russian propaganda machine has once again found itself in an awkward position: the Kremlin published an audio recording and transcript of a telephone conversation in which Vladimir Putin allegedly receives a report from the commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The voice on the recording identified itself as Colonel Shikhabidov and enthusiastically reported the capture of Pokrovsk, Grishino, Novoaleksandrovka, and advances in the Dobropol direction. However, as analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and independent sources found, Colonel Abdulaziz Shikhabidov died back in May 2025. Memorial events are held in his native Dagestan, and the actual division commander is Denis Shishov. ISW emphasizes that the claimed rates of advance are physically impossible given the current dynamics of the fighting, although in July 2026 Russian troops made slight advances in the Pokrovsk and Dobropol districts. Analysts believe this indicates systematic disinformation of Putin by the high military command and a complete disconnect of the Russian leadership from the real situation at the front.