An intercepted phone conversation released Sunday, Jan. 4, by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) offers a rare glimpse into growing distrust inside Russia, as a Russian woman openly mocks the country’s military and political leadership and questions state propaganda about the war.
In the recording published by the HUR, the woman dismisses official television narratives portraying the situation as stable and under control.
“On television, they say everything is perfect,” she said. “I watched yesterday —his face is twisted, that [General Valery]Gerasimov, the general… My God, Yulia, look at his face. He has a moronic face, forgive me, Lord!”
Using crude language, she ridiculed Gerasimov and the senior leadership surrounding President Vladimir Putin, describing them as detached and insulated from reality.
“He’s sitting at the head of the table, Putin is there, all those groomed hangers-on are sitting there, telling everyone that everything is fine,” she said.
Gerasimov is Russia’s chief of the General Staff and first deputy defense minister, making him the country’s top military officer and one of the key architects of Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
The woman went on to question Putin’s understanding of the war, suggesting he should see conditions firsthand rather than relying on briefings.
“Putin should put on camouflage, take his security and go incognito, so no one knows who he is,” she said. “Let him go and see what’s really going on.”
The intercepted call also reveals deep anxiety over missile warfare and the prospect of escalation.
“A missile – what is a missile?” she said. “Yulia, we’ll launch, and they’ll launch back at us.”
She warned repeatedly of catastrophic consequences.
“That’s it – that’s the end of the world,” she said.
HUR stated that Russian accountability is inevitable.
“For every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people, there will be just retribution,” the intelligence service said.
In 2023, Kyiv Post interviewed “Maria,” a professional eavesdropper, who said the “insane” things heard in intercepted calls are, in fact, real despite their often outrageous nature.
“They all are real even though they might seem insane. Sometimes I can’t believe the words I’m hearing myself, but we have what we have,” she said.
Kyiv Post regularly reposts some of the most revealing and shocking intercepted conversations. Check out more intercepted conversations:
‘It’s Like a Slaughterhouse’: Intercept Reveals Russian Mother Shocked by Frontline Video
‘100% Death’: Intercepted Call Exposes Horror Zone Where Russian Troops ‘Don’t Come Back’
‘F***ing Insane’: Intercept Exposes Russian Warplanes Bombing Own Belgorod Region
‘If Anyone Runs, Shoot Them’ – Russian Commander Heard Ordering Execution of Deserters
‘Gas Canisters Not Issued, F**k’: Russian Soldiers Crowdfund for Basics, Die on Supply Runs
‘Three Holes in His Leg and Shrapnel in His Neck’ – Just 2 Russians Survived ‘Meat Assault’
Russian Woman Says: ‘Trump Will Lead the Horned One,’ Jews Will Rule the World
‘Brelok F**king Ate Him’: Intercept Reveals Russian Cannibal Soldier
‘They Drive Tanks for Vodka’ – Intercept Reveals Drunk Russian Troops Terrorizing Border Village
‘We Need to Take Odesa’ – Russian Woman Cites Fake ‘Biolabs’ to Justify Mykolaiv Attacks