Kathrine Frich
Experts cannot say for sure who was on the phone.
When national leaders want to show they are firmly in charge, they often release transcripts of high-level meetings.
It is a simple way to broadcast strength to the public. But sometimes, the details in those official records do not quite add up.
A ghost on the line
The Kremlin published a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a military division commander. The officer on the line confidently introduced himself as Colonel Abdulaziz Shikhabidov.
That specific name immediately caught the attention of military watchers. According to reports from Russian independent media, the soldier was killed and buried in May 2025.
The German newspaper Die Welt cited by O2 highlighted this bizarre discrepancy. They cited findings from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which tracks the conflict.
Details of the briefing
During the call, the officer gave the Russian president an update on the battlefield. He detailed the situation around the eastern Ukrainian areas of Dobropillia and Pokrovsk.
The commander claimed his units captured several towns. Putin asked if the army could meet its goals on time, and the officer assured him the timeline was realistic.
Yet analysts note that Russian sources list Denis Shishov as current commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The transcript deepens the mystery, as Putin never used his guest’s name.
Painting a false picture
Because officials never formally confirmed the death of Shikhabidov, experts cannot say for sure who was on the phone. But researchers believe the Kremlin released this transcript for a specific reason.
“The conversation is likely Putin’s reaction to emerging allegations that the Russian president has lost touch with the real situation on the front in Ukraine,” the ISW reported.
The research group suggested that field units are hiding the truth from their bosses. They stated that soldiers are “creating a fictitious image of Russian military successes for senior military commanders and Putin himself.”
Ties to a tragedy
The military division in question carries a dark reputation. The 76th Pskov Airborne Division has been linked to severe atrocities early in the invasion.
The Ukrainian National Police previously announced they had identified 12 Russian soldiers from a regiment within that exact group. Those men are suspected of shooting 16 civilians in the city of Bucha.
Now, a man claiming to lead that very unit is briefing the president, even though reporters declared him dead over a year ago.
Sources: O2, Die Welt, Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian National Police, Russian independent media
