The Duga-3, AKA the Russian Woodpecker, was a Soviet over-the-horizon radar system located in Ukraine. It operated from July 1976 until December 1989. The system emitted a powerful, repetitive tapping noise that was detected by radio operators worldwide, earning it the nickname “Woodpecker” due to its distinctive sound, which typically operated at 10Hz. The exact purpose of the Duga-3 remains somewhat mysterious, but it is known that the project cost approximately 7 billion rubles, making it twice as expensive as the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
A particularly intriguing aspect of the Duga-3 is its proximity to the Chernobyl disaster site, located just 9 kilometers away. Ukrainian artist and researcher Fedor Alexandrovich has explored the possible connection between the Duga and the Chernobyl disaster, raising fascinating questions about their relationship. For those interested, here’s a link to the trailer for the documentary “The Russian Woodpecker”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rd4ARsbg_0
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