Vesti FM
Vesti FM began broadcasting on the 5th of February 2008 at 6:00 in Moscow. The station started its life on a frequency of 97.6 MHz within the capital city. Ekaterina Shchekina serves as the manager for this national radio outlet owned by VGTRK. Initial broadcasts reached only Moscow and St. Petersburg during those early days. Growth has been steady since that first morning transmission. Today the signal covers more than sixty regions across Russia. This expansion transformed a local project into a nationwide network.
The USSR began construction of a powerful transmitter site in Grigoriupol during the late 1960s. Soviet officials intended to use this facility for soft propaganda directed at Western countries. The de facto government of Transnistria sold the property to RIA Novosti in 2007. Russian authorities mandated that Vesti FM utilize these specific medium-wave transmitters starting in 2014. A power output of 500 KW allowed signals to reach all of Ukraine. These waves also traveled to cover substantial portions of Europe beyond Russian borders.
On the 26th of April 2022 unknown perpetrators blew up one antenna system belonging to Vesti FM. This sabotage occurred as part of wider attacks targeting infrastructure in Transnistria during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Despite the physical destruction, the mediumwave station operating on 1413 kHz continued its operations. The resilience of the remaining systems ensured broadcasts did not cease entirely. Unknown groups targeted the equipment but failed to silence the signal completely.
In June 2017 journalist Vladimir Solovyov ignited controversy through his radio program remarks. He labeled participants in protests that year as eternal two percent of shit and children of corrupt officials. Solovyov described them further as majoritarian imbeciles within his broadcast commentary. He stated that without police intervention counter-protesters would tear protesters to pieces. Journalist Alexander Nevzorov criticized these inflammatory statements publicly alongside other protesters. Similar rhetoric continues against opposition journalists and certain audience members today.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Vesti FM begin broadcasting in Moscow?
Vesti FM began broadcasting on the 5th of February 2008 at 6:00 in Moscow. The station started its life on a frequency of 97.6 MHz within the capital city.
Who manages the Russian radio station Vesti FM today?
Ekaterina Shchekina serves as the manager for this national radio outlet owned by VGTRK. Initial broadcasts reached only Moscow and St. Petersburg during those early days before expanding to more than sixty regions across Russia.
What happened to the Vesti FM antenna system on the 26th of April 2022?
Unknown perpetrators blew up one antenna system belonging to Vesti FM on the 26th of April 2022. This sabotage occurred as part of wider attacks targeting infrastructure in Transnistria during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Why did Soviet officials build a transmitter site in Grigoriupol during the late 1960s?
Soviet officials intended to use this facility for soft propaganda directed at Western countries. The de facto government of Transnistria sold the property to RIA Novosti in 2007.
How many regions does the Vesti FM signal cover today compared to its start?
Today the signal covers more than sixty regions across Russia after initial broadcasts reached only Moscow and St. Petersburg during those early days. Growth has been steady since that first morning transmission transformed a local project into a nationwide network.