The gigantic Soviet Duga radar located in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

For many years, one of the great enigmas of the Cold War was a repetitive radio signal that came from the heart of the USSR.

Poliske, the forgotten ghost town of Ukraine that suffered from the radiation of Chernobyl
The radioactive basement of Pripyat Hospital, a very dangerous place where it is still 1986

Its peculiar sound led many amateur radio operators to nickname the unknown source of that signal—which began being received in 1976 and ceased transmissions in 1989—the "Russian Woodpecker," although it actually originated from northwestern Soviet-occupied Ukraine. After the fall of communism, the truth about that signal was discovered: it came from a colossal radar called Duga, known to NATO as "Steel Yard."

The antenna that emitted that signal was gigantic: it is 150 meters high and 750 meters long and was part of the Soviet Union's missile defense shield. Its function was to detect the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, the Duga antenna was located within the exclusion zone. Today the enormous installation still stands, but abandoned.

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this enormous radar had become a tourist destination for visitors to the exclusion zone, with certain access restrictions. It was also a magnet for urban explorers. However, after the start of the invasion, tourist visits to the antenna were suspended for security reasons. It should be remembered that Russian invaders reached the Chernobyl exclusion zone at the beginning of the war, during their operation to take Kyiv, although they eventually had to withdraw, leaving behind abandoned military equipment.

Recently, the YouTube channel Chornobyl Family, managed by Alex, a Ukrainian scientist working in the exclusion zone, published an interesting 4K video showing images of the exterior and interior of this antenna:

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Main image: Chornobyl Family.