Denis Shishov
Denis Shishov | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981 (age 44–45) Buryat ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Branch | Russian Airborne Forces |
| Service years | 2003–present |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | |
| Conflicts | |
| Alma mater | |
Denis Nikolayevich Shishov (Russian: Денис Николаевич Шишов, born 1981) is a Russian Airborne Forces major general who has been the commanding officer of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division since April 2022. He was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation in February 2022.
Early life and education
Shishov was born to a military family in 1981,[1][2] in the Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.[3] His father was in the Soviet Airborne Forces and a served in the Soviet–Afghan War. Shishov later lived in Kostroma, where he completed his secondary education in 1998 before entering the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School that same year. He graduated in 2003 and was commissioned as a lieutenant.[2]
Military career
Between 2003 and 2015 Shishov served in the 104th Guards Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, and from 2015 to 2017 he was the regiment's commander.[2][4] At some point he attended and graduated from the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.[4] Promoted to colonel in 2017, he was deputy commander of the 98th Guards Airborne Division until 2020, when he was appointed commander of the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade.[4]
At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Shishov commanded the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade during its attack into Kherson Oblast. The brigade landed near Kakhovka along the Dnieper river and was tasked with holding its position until backup arrived. They did this while only having infantry fighting vehicles to defend from Ukrainian armored and artillery attacks. His deputy commander was killed and Shishov was injured in the head during the fighting, on 26 February. Despite this he continued to lead the unit and they successfully fought off seven attacks from the Ukrainian forces. He later was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.[4][5] In the successful air assault, the 11th Guards Brigade captured the Kakhovka Dam and bridge.[6]
On 18 April 2022 Shishov was made commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division.[1][2] In the fall of 2022, the 76th Guards Division halted the advance of Ukrainian marines in the Beryslav area of Kherson Oblast.[7] On 6 December 2023 he was promoted to major general.[5] In March 2024, Colonel Abdulaziz Shikhabirov was appointed as division commander, but he was reportedly killed in May 2025.[8] Shishov was reportedly again the commander of the 76th division as of June 2025.[9]
Awards and decorations
- Hero of the Russian Federation[4]
- Order of Courage (x2)[4]
- Zhukov Medal[4]
- Suvorov Medal[4]
- Other medals[4]
Personal life
In June 2025, he married Sofia, the daughter of Andrey Turchak, the head of Russia's Altai Republic.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Дениса Шишова, отличившегося во время спецоперации, назначили командиром 76-й дивизии ВДВ" [Denis Shishov, distinguished during the special operation, appointed commander of 76th VDV division]. Moskovskij Komsomolets (in Russian). 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Подвиг десантника Дениса Шишова" [Feat of paratrooper Denis Shishov] (in Russian). Kostroma Oblast Duma. 16 May 2022.
- ^ "«Я испытываю гордость за сына»: отец командира 76 псковской дивизии Дениса Шишова открыл в его честь памятную доску на школе в Костроме" ["I feel proud of my son": father of the commander of 76th Pskov division Denis Shishov opened plaque at school in Kostroma]. Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Денис Шишов: путь от десантника до Героя России" [Denis Shishov: path from paratrooper to Hero of Russia]. Veteranskiye Vesti (in Russian). 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Путин присвоил командиру 76-й дивизии ВДВ звание генерал-майора" [Putin gave commander of 76th VDV Division rank of major general]. Pskovskaya Lenta Novostei (in Russian). 6 December 2023.
- ^ Donnelly, Ted; Ryan, Kevin; Butler, Tom; Hartman, Jeff; Gabel, Lee (March 2025). "How Russia Fights: A Compendium of Troika Observations on Russia's Special Military Operation" (PDF). United States Army Europe and Africa. p. 261. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ Axe, David (10 October 2022). "Ukrainian Marines Vs. Russian Paratroopers: How A Tough Fight Over One Village Is Shaping The Southern Front". Forbes. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Russian Force Generation and Technological Adaptations Update May 14, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ Ivanova, Elmira (3 June 2025). "Десантник из Костромы взял в жёны дочь главы Республики Алтай Андрея Турчака" [Paratrooper from Kostroma married the daughter of head of Altai Republic Andrey Turchak]. Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Костромской герой-десантник женился на дочери главы Алтая Софии Турчак" [Kostroma hero-paratrooper married daughter of head of Altai, Sofia Turchak]. kostroma.top24.news (in Russian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.