Russia’s infamous shortwave station known as UVB‑76 has once again stirred online intrigue with a fresh batch of mysterious transmissions.
For decades this eerie frequency has throbbed with an unending, robotic buzz, but recently listeners have reported it breaking into unusual coded bursts that have conspiracy theorists and radio hobbyists buzzing.
The Buzzer keeps its chilling broadcast alive
Broadcasting constantly on 4625 kHz since the Cold War era, UVB‑76 pumps out a repetitive, monotone tone that seems to have no end in sight, per The Sun.
The signal’s distinctive buzz, usually sent in short blips lasting about 1 to 1.2 seconds and repeating roughly 21 to 34 times per minute, has earned it a global following among shortwave enthusiasts.
The station’s persistent, hypnotic sound is so famous that it’s commonly called “The Buzzer.”
More than a dozen unusual messages have been picked up by listeners keeping a close ear on the airwaves, making this latest flurry of activity one of the most active periods in recent memory.
What’s behind the strange signals?
There are countless theories about who operates UVB‑76 and why. The prevailing belief places it in the hands of the Russian military, though the Kremlin has never publicly acknowledged its purpose.
In the view of experts like professor David Stupples, an electronic and radio engineering specialist at the City University of London, the evidence points firmly toward the Russian state.
He previously told Popular Mechanics: "If it is the Russian government, it wouldn't be for peaceful purposes," but added: "They may be just reserving the channel for air defence or some form of defence."
Even top engineers and signal analysts struggle to decode the purpose of UVB‑76. But when the steady buzz abruptly stops and gives way to voice or code transmissions, speculation surges.
A year of coded chatter
The station’s recent broadcasts have included a striking mix of strange code words and sequences:
- On 15 April, the station transmitted four odd words: Neptune, Thymus, Foxcloak, and Nootabu.
- On 19 May, mere hours before a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, UVB‑76 aired: "NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573" followed by "NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529".
- In September, listeners logged the code words NZHTI and HOTEL, accompanied by a series of numbers - 38, 965, 78, 58, 88, 37.
New December transmissions spark fresh alarm
This week’s uptick in activity saw signals on Monday 8 December followed by more on Wednesday 10 December. These included coded words that range from the mundane to the bizarre: "PEPPER SHAKER, TRANSFER, PABODOLL, SPINOBAZ, FRIGORIA, OPALNY, SNOPOVY, MYUONOSVOD."
But despite countless ears tuned in and theories flying, nobody knows what these codes mean.
With global tensions high and fears about the prospect of another world conflict stirring conversation, the broadcasts have put many listeners on edge.
Even more unusual, on Friday 12 December, faint music and what was believed to be bursts of Morse code were reportedly picked up on The Buzzer, adding another layer to the mystery.