A Cold War-era Russian radio station has aired another cryptic message, fueling speculation about its purpose.
Russia’s mysterious shortwave station UVB-76, known as “Doomsday Radio,” has sent a new cryptic broadcast, reviving speculation about its purpose. The station, active since the 1970s on 4625 kHz, usually emits a constant buzzing tone but occasionally interrupts with coded voice messages.
On Monday, social media buzzed after a male voice recited names and numbers, including the codewords “NZhTI” and “OTEL.” The initials match previous transmissions, with some observers suggesting the message could be linked to military operations.
UVB-76 is widely believed to be a Russian military numbers station, possibly tied to nuclear command systems, though Moscow has never confirmed its role. Analysts note its activity spikes during geopolitical tensions.
“The Russian government is almost certainly behind it,” said David Stupples, a professor of electronic engineering, in an earlier interview, adding it is “unlikely to be for peaceful purposes.”
The latest broadcast comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters a tense phase, intensifying curiosity about the station’s mission.