Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mangosman, for sharing the following press release from Radio Exterior de España. Please note that the original press release was in Spanish and can be viewed at RTVE Comunicación. What follows is a machine translation:
Radio Exterior de España transmits its programming on Short Wave from its broadcasting center in Noblejas (Toledo). Source: RTVE
Radio Exterior de España: The Short Wave service of REE reaches Ukraine and Russia
Radio Exterior de España, the international channel of Radio Nacional de España, offers an open window to truthful information in times of war through Short Wave. The Russian attack on the Kiev communications tower has silenced several television channels. The Internet and social networks are easily controllable, and the telecommunications infrastructure that provides Internet service is highly vulnerable to attack.
True to its commitment to public service, the Short Wave broadcasts of Radio Exterior de España, in Spanish and Russian, are the only Spanish ones that can publicize the reality of the invasion, its repercussions, the testimonies and the demonstrations of solidarity to the Ukrainian population directly. They can be easily received with affordable receivers and you cannot control who is listening to them, unlike online radio broadcasts.
Radio Exterior de España transmits its programming on Short Wave from its broadcasting center in Noblejas (Toledo) to Ukraine and Russia, thus preventing any type of control or censorship by the Russian army. Any citizen from the war zone can access a proven, serious, truthful and honest source of information.
With broadcasts in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Sephardic and Russian, Radio Exterior de España offers its listeners the transmission of all the national and international events that arouse the interest of world public opinion regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its global consequences. A work that is enriched by the live testimony of the correspondents and special envoys of Radio Nacional de España to the conflict zone and its area of ??influence.
Radio Exterior de España’s short wave broadcasts for Ukraine and Russia are broadcast in Spanish from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Spanish time (4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. UTC) and in Russian from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Spanish time (6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. UTC time).
In Spanish? Wow that is widely spoken in Ukraine and Russia. Another PR piece.
They have a half an hour broadcast in russian also. Who knows how many people understands a bit of spanish over there. Not much it’s true,but we like to learn it here in Central and Eastern Europe because for our annual holidays in Spain an Balearic Islands.
It would be nice if they had also included frequencies. No transmissions directly aiming at Europe are listed on REE’s frequencies list: https://www.rtve.es/radio/20211013/radio-exterior-espana-emisiones-onda-corta/2188501.shtml
Assuming they haven’t added any frequencies or adjusted transmitters, this sounds frankly more of a PR piece designed to get attention than anything of substance. This is not to say that there isn’t overspill into Eastern Europe from transmissions targeted at other regions. Here in Estonia, I can currently (1629Z) hear 11685 and 12030 from REE. 12030 is even stronger. I remember having heard 11940 kHz too in the past(much to my dismay as I tried to listen to NHK on 11945 kHz). However, an outdoor antenna is required for best results.
But, are people in this region actually listening to SW at the moment? I think that have more important things to do than listen to a couple hours a day of a broadcast no in their language.
Hi you can try the 12050 kHz which is aired via the Middle East and parts of Africa. I use the same frequency here in Dusseldorf Germany. It’s the strongest so far. When I live in Peru temporarily I listen on 11945 kHz.
Perhaps we’re heading into a new era of shortwave listening. Not really the way we would have wanted it to happen as war is never good and results in horrendous death and destruction. But the spreading of the truth via shortwave radio has tremendous impact worldwide, not just in the war zone.