Mysterious Soviet 'doomsday radio station' broadcasts cryptic messages again
Russia's mysterious 'doomsday radio station' woke up and began to broadcast cryptic messages during Vladimir Putin's telephone call with Donald Trump.
It's the second time this year that the Soviet UVB-76 radio station has creaked into action amid calls between the pair.
It first began to broadcast the apparent code 'NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573' ahead of the White House call, before following up a few hours later with 'NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529'.
The station – known as Buzzer, Dead Hand Radio or Judgement Day Radio – has existed since the Cold War, but its purpose remains classified.
Usually, it operates around the clock, making a buzzing sound, but it sent out other cryptic messages in February and April this year.
The station is assumed to play a military role, possibly linked to Moscow's nuclear arsenal.
After the talks, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would 'immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire'.
Putin responded that it was necessary to show a 'maximum desire for peace and to find compromises that would suit all sides'.
In a statement made via Kremlin-controlled media following the call, he said he thanked Trump for 'US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine'.
But shortly after the call, Russia attacked again, striking a civilian minibus in Ukraine's Kherson region, wounding a 65-year-old woman.
Footage also emerged of Russia deploying a North Korean M-1978 Koksan self-propelled giant gun in the war zone after the call.
There appeared to be concern in European capitals overnight that Trump had failed to publicly threaten Putin with harsh sanctions for failing to swiftly agree a ceasefire as a prelude to peace talks.
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Earlier, the aim had been a 30-day ceasefire, but Trump did not impose a deadline. More Trending
Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin was set to 'drag out the war'.
'If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions for that,' he said.
'Pressure on Russia will encourage it to make real peace – this is obvious to everyone in the world. I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations with Russia in any format that will yield results. Turkey, the Vatican, Switzerland – we are considering all possible venues.
'Russia must end the war that it started, and it can do so any day. Ukraine is always ready for peace.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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MORE: Trump says Ukraine ceasefire talks to start 'immediately' after Putin call
MORE: Putin prepares for Trump phone call by launching largest drone strike yet on Ukraine
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