What the Hell is the Shortwave Radio Station UVB-76 is the Question thats spanned Decades and Still the Answer Alludes Everyone. Over the Years Plenty of People have Investigated the Mysterious UVB-76 Phenomenon, and Here is the Information that has been Collected Pertaining to UVB-76.
UVB-76 was Detected in the 1970’s/ Early 1980’s during America’s Cold War with Soviet Union (Now Russia), and was Originally located in Povarovo near Moscow. It’s current Location is Unverified, but it’s Known Through Radio Observation that at Least Two Transmitter Sites Exist. The First Site sends Radio Relay and Phone Lines Directly from Moscow via St. Petersburg’ Command Center Located on Palace Square. The Other Site’s Location is Allegedly (But Unconfirmed) to be at Naro-Fominsk in the Moscow District. The Moscow District is where the 69th Communication Center is Located, and Serves as the Main Staff Headquarters of the Western Military District in Moscow.
UVB-76 is also Know by its Nickname “The Buzzer”which is used by Radio Stations that Broadcasts in the Frequency 4625 kHZ . UVB-76 has been Broadcasting since at Least 1982 Broadcasting Tones Only Reminiscent of Morse Code. The Tones were Changed in 1992 to One Constant Buzz with Additional Beeps and a Variety of Unidentified Noises that Occurs 20-30 times Per Minute, and Audio Clips of Swan Lake. On January 16, 2003 the Station briefly changed to a Higher Tone for a Longer Duration (approximately 20 Tones Per Minute) and then Reverted back to its Previous Tone Pattern. UVB-76 Broadcasts Non Stop 24 Hours a Day 365 Days a Year with a rough approximation of 25 Tones a Minute
The Truly Strange Part is Sporadically on Rare Occasions the Buzzer Signal is Interrupted by a Voice Transmutation in Russian. The Messages are Predominately Random Names (Representing Characters/Letters of the Alphabet along with Seemingly Random Numbers.
Example: UVB-76 UVB-76 882 NAIMINA 74 14 35 74 93 7 8 8 2 NIKOLAI ANNA IVAN MICHAIL IVAN NIKOLAI 12 49 57…..
What does UVB-76 actually mean, well for Starters UVB-76 is an Incorrect Station Identification (Though the Station was Finally signed the Signifier S28, S28 is Not a Standard Number Station). The name UVB-76 cones from Early Unverified Reports pertaining to the First Voice Message that was Broadcast. A Unknown Male with a Russian Accent came on the Air and Said “Ulyana Vasilij Boris 76” the phrase then Repeated several times, and was initially thought to be the Station’s Call Sign. It was Later Verified using Recordings of the Message that the Unknown Russian Man Actually said UZB-76, and Zinanidia Not Vasilij. The Station which is Still Active in spite of Rumors that it had Shut Down uses Numerous Coded Phrases like the WellKnown NAIMINA, but the then the Station started to Use Other Code Words/Phrases such as Mihail, Dimitrj, Zheng, and Boris for Example.
The Purpose of UVB-76 and the Cryptically Coded Messages is still Unclear, and of Course there are Plenty of Theories floating around the Internet. There is a Theory The Dead Hand Nuclear Umbrella which states when the Buzzer goes Completely Silent once and for all it will trigger the Launching of Nuclear Missiles. Unfortunately the Dead Hand Nukes Theory is been Proven to be Incorrect as the Buzzer goes Off Many times a Month due to apparent Technical Difficulties. A much more Viable Theory is that the Buzzer Broadcast by UBV-76 is used for Propagation Measurements and Weather Research, and this Theory had been collaborated by Several Sources from Russian Research Magazines. Unfortunately for those who believe in this Theory No Further Confirmation has Been Found. The More than Likely Theories involve a Top Secret Government Conspiracy or For some Nefarious Military Plot.
HERE IS THE STRANGEST DETAIL OF THEM ALL: From It’s Discovery in the 70’s/Early 80’s the Official Statement from the Russian Government was and still is that Station UBV-76 Simply DOES NOT EXIST.
I included a Small Sampling of REAL UBV-76 Recordings Below. Enjoy.
Thanks for Reading/Listening,
Presented By Les Sober