Transmitting Radio Center "Charodey"
Identification and Scope
The subject is the Transmitting Radio Center "Charodey" and its Reserve Command Post, both associated with Russian military unit 01266 (в/ч 01266). The identifiers indicate a stationary communications facility and an alternate command element belonging to the same unit. No coordinates, dates, or equipment lists were provided, and such specifics may be restricted in open sources.
Unit Designation and Administrative Context
In Russian practice, a military unit number (в/ч) is an administrative and postal identifier for a specific formation or institution of the Ministry of Defense. It is commonly used across official documents, logistics, and procurement records to refer to the unit without disclosing its descriptive title. The pairing of a cover name ("Charodey") with a unit number (01266) is consistent with the longstanding Russian convention of assigning non-descriptive names to fixed communications sites.
Functional Classification
A Transmitting Radio Center (Передающий радиоцентр, PRC) is a fixed facility dedicated to high-power radio transmission for long-range military communications. Such centers support strategic and operational command-and-control by radiating orders, alerts, and data over extended distances, including beyond line-of-sight, and often operate continuously to maintain assured connectivity under peacetime and crisis conditions.
Organizational Subordination
Transmitting radio centers in the Russian Armed Forces are typically subordinated within the communications system under the Main Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Главное управление связи ВС РФ). Depending on mission, they may be assigned to service-specific communications commands or communications brigades/regiments under the Joint Strategic Commands. The provided identifiers do not establish a specific chain of command for unit 01266.
Mission Profile and Operational Role
Transmitting radio centers provide long-haul backbone communications and broadcast functions that complement terrestrial, satellite, and wired links. Typical roles include dissemination of command directives and time-sensitive messages, support to inter-theater and strategic-level communications, and provision of resilient alternatives when satellite or fiber infrastructure is degraded. The specific message sets, circuits, and supported headquarters for "Charodey" are not stated in the provided information and are not detailed in publicly available sources here.
Reserve Command Post (ZKP) Purpose
A Reserve Command Post (Запасной командный пункт, ZKP) ensures continuity of command and operations if the primary site is incapacitated or requires dispersal. In Russian practice, ZKPs are geographically separated from the main site, linked by redundant communications, and equipped with independent power, life-support, and staffing to assume control of transmit operations. The ZKP referenced here is explicitly tied to the Transmitting Radio Center "Charodey" and the same military unit number, indicating an alternate control element of the same organization.
Infrastructure Characteristics
Transmitting radio centers typically comprise transmitter halls, high-power RF amplifiers, antenna switching and feeder corridors, extensive antenna fields, control and monitoring rooms, a protected command post, power reception and distribution infrastructure, diesel generator farms, fuel storage, workshops, and secured perimeters. Antenna farms may include arrays appropriate to the operating bands, with separation from any dedicated receiver facilities to mitigate mutual interference.
Operating Bands and Emissions
Russian military transmitting centers may operate across very low frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz), low frequency (LF, 30–300 kHz), and high frequency (HF, 3–30 MHz) bands, as dictated by mission. Emissions commonly include voice (e.g., single sideband) and data modes (e.g., telegraphy and frequency-shift keying) suitable for reliable long-range delivery in varying ionospheric conditions. The specific frequency assignments, power levels, and waveforms for "Charodey" are not disclosed in the provided input and are not detailed here due to lack of public sourcing in this report.
Continuity and Redundancy
Assured service is achieved through redundant transmitters, multi-path power (commercial grid intake plus on-site generation), protected cable routing, environmental controls, and dual or multi-homed communications links to higher and lateral headquarters. Remote control capabilities and alternate keying from a ZKP are typical to sustain operations during maintenance, sabotage, or strike conditions.
Security and Protective Measures
Fixed transmitting centers are subject to restricted access controls, perimeter fencing, controlled entry points, and on-site guard forces. Protective engineering features may include blast-resistant structures for command and technical areas, electromagnetic safety standoff zones around antenna fields, and compliance with national sanitary and occupational regulations governing exposure to electromagnetic fields. Detailed site security layouts for "Charodey" are not publicly available here.
Integration with National Defense Communications
Transmitting radio centers are integrated within the Russian Armed Forces communications architecture that supports the National Defense Management Center (НЦУО) and the Joint Strategic Commands. They provide terrestrial radio redundancy to satellite communications and fiber networks, enabling dissemination of orders to subordinate commands and forces across the national expanse and maritime approaches. Specific network topologies and circuit assignments for unit 01266 are not provided.
Associated Receiver and Control Elements
In Russian communications practice, high-power transmit sites are often complemented by separate receiver radio centers to enhance reception quality and reduce self-interference. Control functions may be distributed between the main command post at the transmitter site and a reserve or remote command post. The mention of a Reserve Command Post for "Charodey" aligns with this distributed control model; however, no receiver site is identified in the provided information.
Logistics and Sustainment
Operation of a transmitting radio center requires continuous technical staffing, power and fuel supply management, routine and unscheduled maintenance of transmitters and antenna systems, and assured spares for high-stress RF components. Fuel provisioning for generators and maintenance of high-voltage equipment are recurring sustainment tasks. No manning levels, consumption rates, or maintenance cycles are specified for unit 01266 in the provided material.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Military radio operations in the Russian Federation are subject to national spectrum management overseen by the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (ГКРЧ), with defense allocations managed through government channels. Fixed high-power transmitting sites must also observe national regulations on electromagnetic safety zones and facility protection regimes. Specific frequency assignments and licensing details for "Charodey" are not publicly enumerated here.
Information Gaps
The provided identifiers do not include geolocation, construction timeline, equipment inventories, operating bands, call signs, supported command hierarchies, or current readiness state. Such details may be sensitive or classified. Without authoritative open-source documentation tied explicitly to "Charodey" and v/ch 01266, this report limits itself to the established characteristics and roles of Russian transmitting radio centers and their reserve command posts.