It looks like something out of a science fiction movie, inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone. A former top secret military object used by the Soviet Union, the mysterious giant antenna system called the Duga-3, was the origin of an extremely powerful but anonymous signal between 1976 to 1989. The sharp, tapping signal came without warning, disrupting broadcasts and communications worldwide. Transmission power on some woodpecker transmitters was estimated to be as high as 10 MW EIRP. It was built in the 70\’s as an early missile detection system (over-the-horizon radar system). It was also called the Steel Yard hence its distinctive appearance. The towers are incredible feats of engineering: the big ones measure 479 feet tall and spans a length of 2,460 feet (nearly half a mile). The antenna was deactivated in 1989.

credit:  Michael Kötter

The human cost

5,665 people killed and 13,961 wounded in eastern Ukraine
5.2 million people estimated to be living in conflict areas
978,482 internally displaced people within Ukraine, including 119,832 children
600,000 fled to neighbouring countries, of whom more than 400,000 have gone to Russia

Photo Credit: EU/ECHO, Eastern Ukraine, Mathias Eick, March 2015

credit:  EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection

Waving blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags and the flag of Europe, demonstrators swirled in a huge mass on the cobblestone streets, but riot police in the Ukrainian capital Kiev used batons and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of pro-Europe protesters. Thousands of Ukrainian protesters called for the ouster of the prime minister and his Cabinet, as anger at the president’s decision to ditch a deal for closer ties with the European Union.

credit: Ivan Bandura

The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012. Sixteen national teams have decided to compete in 31 matches to fight for the European champions cup. This UEFA EURO 2012 will be played in eight stadiums. The attendance for The EURO 2012 football championship is expected to be over 1 million.

Group A
Czech Republic
Greece
Poland
Russia

Group B
Denmark
Germany
Netherlands
Portugal

Group C
Croatia
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Spain

Group D
England
France
Sweden
Ukraine

credit: DrabikPany