| Hero of the Russian Federation Major General Denis Shishov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1981 |
| Allegiance |  Russia |
| Service |  Russian Airborne Forces |
| Years of service | 2003–present |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| 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. 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.
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. At some point he attended and graduated from the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. 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.
At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Shishov commanded elements of the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade during its attack into Kherson Oblast. The brigade landed near Kakhovka along the Dneiper 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.
On 18 April 2022 Shishov was made commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, and on 6 December 2023 he was promoted to major general.
Awards and decorations
Hero of the Russian Federation
Order of Courage (x2)- Zhukov Medal
- Suvorov Medal
- Other medals
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Подвиг десантника Дениса Шишова" [Feat of paratrooper Denis Shishov] (in Russian). Kostroma Oblast Duma. 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Денис Шишов: путь от десантника до Героя России" [Denis Shishov: path from paratrooper to Hero of Russia]. Veteranskiye Vesti (in Russian). 13 July 2024.
- ^ "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.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byAndrey Stesyev | Commander of the 104th Guards Air Assault Regiment 2015–2017 |
Succeeded byVitaly Repin |
| Preceded byRuslan Yevkodimov | Commander of the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade 2020–2022 |
Succeeded byZayan Bayanov |
| Preceded bySergey Chubarykin | Commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division 2022–present |
Succeeded byHimself |
- Heroes of the Russian Federation
- Recipients of the Order of Courage (Russia)
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Russian Airborne Forces personnel
- Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School alumni
- Russian major generals
- Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of Russia alumni
- Russian military personnel of the Russian invasion of Ukraine