Volga 149.200

Lore & Background

The hotline was designed to enable Ukrainian servicemen who do not want to participate in combat or military operations to surrender to the Russian Armed Forces. It parallels the Ukrainian hotline 'I Want to Live', which helps Russian servicemen surrender safely to Ukrainian forces. According to TASS, Ukrainian soldiers who use the frequency are reportedly 'well-fed and provided with all necessary medical care'.

On 27 September 2023, TASS claimed that over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers had used the frequency to surrender, though an analysis by Snopes found no evidence for this claim. In 2024, after French President Emmanuel Macron made statements about possible French troop deployments to Ukraine, posters appeared near the French Embassy in Moscow and public transport stations around the embassy. The posters depicted Edgar Puaud, commander of the French SS division Charlemagne, with text in French and Russian reading: 'Frenchmen, do not repeat the mistakes of your ancestors; their fate is well-known' followed by 'Call Volga 149.200'.

Reader's Guide

Volga 149.200 represents a notable instance of psychological warfare and information operations in the context of the ongoing conflict. Its establishment mirrors the Ukrainian 'I Want to Live' hotline, indicating a reciprocal effort by both sides to encourage defections. The frequency's use as a surrender channel is accompanied by claims of humane treatment, though the veracity of the reported surrender numbers remains disputed. The appearance of posters referencing the French SS division Charlemagne in 2024, following Macron's statements on potential troop deployments, illustrates how the hotline has been repurposed as a propaganda tool aimed at deterring foreign military involvement. The frequency thus functions both as a practical surrender mechanism and as a symbolic element in broader information campaigns.

Did You Know?

• Volga 149.200 operates on VHF radio frequency 149.2 MHz.
• The hotline was set up by the Russian military in the summer of 2023.
• TASS claimed over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers had used the frequency by September 2023, but Snopes found no evidence for this.
• In 2024, posters near the French Embassy in Moscow used the frequency to warn French troops against deployment to Ukraine.