UVB-76, also known as "the Buzzer", is the nickname given by radio listeners to a shortwave radio station that broadcasts on the frequency 4625 kHz. It broadcasts a short, monotonous About this sound buzz tone, repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, 24 hours per day. Sometimes, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place. The first reports were made of a station on this frequency in 1973. Its origins have been traced to Russia, and although several theories with varying degrees of plausibility exist, its actual purpose has never been officially confirmed and remains a source of speculation.
Guy 1: Did you hear about that creepy radio station in Russia called UVB-76?
Guy 2: No, never heard of it.
Guy 2: No, never heard of it.
by v3stis July 10, 2017
Get the UVB-76mug. Just for people to digest this easier.
Russian station that plays buzzing sounds. Started in the 1970s and occasionally a voice speaks, usually a male. No one really knows why it exists or what it is used for, except the station is likely run by the Russian Armed Forces.
The equipment there is likely not super sophisticated either, it runs in AM, people hijack it oftenly and play whatever the hell they want trying to interfere communications, whoever runs the station knows people are putting weird shit there, they aren't oblivious.
Do not waste your time trying to crack these codes. These codes probably operate under a one time pad and probably requires a decryption key that we do not know. The broadcast used to occur in a random town near Moscow, before 2010, some have even visited it. Location changed but likely still broadcasts in the Western Military District Russia, containing the Orders of Moscow Military District and Leningrad Military District, their bases are in Moscow and Saint Petersburg respectively and UVB-76 probably has presence in both.
The Russian government has never revealed the purpose of the station and they don't have to. Fascinating but really isn't something to worry about, there is no ghosts making the broadcasts or a 90 year old man still sending the messages, the station is likely manned.
Russian station that plays buzzing sounds. Started in the 1970s and occasionally a voice speaks, usually a male. No one really knows why it exists or what it is used for, except the station is likely run by the Russian Armed Forces.
The equipment there is likely not super sophisticated either, it runs in AM, people hijack it oftenly and play whatever the hell they want trying to interfere communications, whoever runs the station knows people are putting weird shit there, they aren't oblivious.
Do not waste your time trying to crack these codes. These codes probably operate under a one time pad and probably requires a decryption key that we do not know. The broadcast used to occur in a random town near Moscow, before 2010, some have even visited it. Location changed but likely still broadcasts in the Western Military District Russia, containing the Orders of Moscow Military District and Leningrad Military District, their bases are in Moscow and Saint Petersburg respectively and UVB-76 probably has presence in both.
The Russian government has never revealed the purpose of the station and they don't have to. Fascinating but really isn't something to worry about, there is no ghosts making the broadcasts or a 90 year old man still sending the messages, the station is likely manned.
The Monolith format is most common for messages.
Nikolai, Zhenya, Tatiana, Ivan (NZhTI), Nikolai, Zhenya, Tatiana, Ivan (NZHTI) (Callsign, NZHTI (UVB-76's call sign as of 2025) Names are part of the Russian spelling alphabet, just like Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, note that Zhenya is Russian for gene.)
(random numbers in Russian we probably should not know what they mean)
(Random set of strings of the Russian spelling alphabet, likely an encoded message)
(Repeat)
Priyom. (Russian equivalent of "over")
Nikolai, Zhenya, Tatiana, Ivan (NZhTI), Nikolai, Zhenya, Tatiana, Ivan (NZHTI) (Callsign, NZHTI (UVB-76's call sign as of 2025) Names are part of the Russian spelling alphabet, just like Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, note that Zhenya is Russian for gene.)
(random numbers in Russian we probably should not know what they mean)
(Random set of strings of the Russian spelling alphabet, likely an encoded message)
(Repeat)
Priyom. (Russian equivalent of "over")
by Benjiinthe2020s August 31, 2025
Get the UVB-76mug.