Putin signals WW3 as ‘Doomsday Radio’ threatens war with NATO country

Russia’s sinister ‘Doomsday Radio’ broadcast a threat to NATO in a burst of coded messages on Monday (November 17). One read simply ‘LATVIA’ – the name of an allied state that shares a 170-mile border with Vladimir Putin’s state.

Latvia and its neighbours, Estonia and Lithuania, are viewed as among those most vulnerable to a Russian invasion, which would trigger NATO’s Article 5 and, likely, World War 3. The bizarre radio station – UVB-76 – a relic of the Cold War, has been on air for half a century and usually transmits buzzing sounds, earning it its nickname, The Buzzer. However, occasionally it comes to life, transmitting coded messages, often during times of high worldwide tension.

On Monday, the Doomsday Radio transmitted at least seven coded messages, one of which included the word “Latvia” – NZHTI NZHTI 15854 LATVIA 5894 4167. A recording highlights the transmission in Russian, the sixth message broadcast on Monday.

The shortwave radio messages are seen as being broadcast by Russian Strategic Forces networks, linked to Putin’s nuclear strike capability. The exact purpose of the messages is not clear and has been the subject of conspiracy theories.

Latvia joined NATO on March 29, 2004 and became a member of the EU a few months later. This marked the culmination of Latvia’s strategic goal to integrate with Western Europe after restoring its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Today’s other codewords included NANTOTYUK, LAST, BOLONSKIY, GALVANIZER, AND DRAW. It was the Latvia message, however, that triggered a slew of online speculation.

One comment asked: “Can Latvia be erased from maps?? Has it started!!????” while a second Russian commenter demanded: “We should also add Estonia and Lithuania“.

A third speculated: “There’ll soon be another SVO [war], only this time in the Baltics.”

Another said: “Latvia – consultation on NATO Article 5.”

A fifth read: “There’s been so many messages today, even I am worried about the Latvians now.”

The “threat” to the NATO state came in the days after the Doomsday station went quiet, apparently after a drone attack on the power station it uses for its electricity supply.

This comes just hours after Poland’s Prime Minister confirmed that an explosion which damaged a railway in the country was an act of sabotage.

Donald Tusk wrote on X: “Unfortunately, the worst fears have been confirmed. On the Warsaw-Lublin route (Mika village), an act of sabotage has occurred.”

Mr Tusk did not say who is responsible for the sabotage, but has previously accused Russia in similar instances, though Moscow has always denied involvement.