Russia utilizes a wide range of number stations to send messages to their spies abroad. They have more active stations than any other country, using multiple languages, Morse, and digital modes to send their encrypted messages.
Based on the station formats, schedules, and real life events we can conclude there are two different agencies in Russia we believe to be operating numbers stations. These are named the Russian 6 and Russian 7 operators which are likely the GRU and SVR respectively. Both operators commonly target countries in Eastern Asia, and the Pacific with their transmissions.
Russian 6 Operator
The Russian 6 Operator is strongly believed to be the GRU and/or FSB. This network has stations that broadcast around the world in multiple languages, reaching all of Russia, Asia, Cuba, and possibly the US. They transmit messages from numerous sites including Moscow, Cuba, and Eastern Russia. All voice stations are automated, as well as their Morse and digital stations. They primarily run on windows XP, as OS sounds have been observed many times in the past. Even in 2022 they can still be heard. It seems they still use the same windows XP setup as usual.
Format
The typical format of Russian 6 stations are as follows. All voice and Morse stations share the same format, and end with 00000. It’s also included in the digital stations F01 and F06 but after the padding characters, and is repeated numerous times. These digital stations also send a 5 group metadata header and outro including a serial number for the message, which increases for each new message, followed by the group count.
| 891 | 237 237 | 20 20 | 06132 06132 75514 75514 … | 237 237 | 20 20 | 00000 |
| 3-digit ID | 3-digit 2nd ID (2x) |
Group count (2x) |
5-digit paired groups | 3-digit 2nd ID (2x) |
Group count (2x) |
Outro |
| Repeats 4 minutes |
Schedule
Analog stations usually begin on the hour, then send identical transmissions one hour after the original is sent on a different frequency. Digital stations repeat the same message 2 times after the original, sending each 10 minutes apart. The digital stations all send messages on an automated loop for approximately 7 minutes
Transmissions that send actual traffic repeat the next day on the same time and frequencies.
Station List
English: E06, E17, E19
Russian: S06
German: G06
Spanish: V06
French: V23
Morse: M01, M14,
Digital: F01, F06, F06a
Active: E06, S06, M01, M14, F01, F06, F06a
Inactive: E17, E19, G06, V23
Russian 7 Operator
The Russian 7 operator is another numbers station network run by one of Russia’s major intelligence agencies. The most likely case is that it’s being run by the SVR. Like the Russian 6 operator stations, all stations are automated and have their messages sent by a PC running windows XP.
English: E07, E07a
German: G07
Russian: S07
Spanish: V07
Morse: M12
Digital: XPA, XPA2, XPB, XP
Active: E07, V07, M12, XPA, XPA2, XPB
Inactive: E07a, G07, S07, XP
