The Christian radio station Radio Maria decided not to renew its contract with the radio center for broadcasting on the frequency 1053 kHz.

Has the medium wave frequency of 1053 kHz or 284.9 meters fallen silent forever? The era of medium-wave broadcasting by Christian radio stations in St. Petersburg appears to be over.
Previously, from the frequency of 684 kHz it went "Orthodox Radio", then frequency went into history 828 kHz, and now the 1053 kHz frequency "Radio Maria" is switched off.

Radio Maria originated in the late 70s in Italy. Since Italians profess the Catholic faith, Radio Maria covered Catholicism in its broadcasting. Radio is international. Start date of Radio Maria broadcasting in Russia: April 12, 1999. The first broadcasting license in Russia, available on the radio station’s website, dated January 18, 2005. Topic: culture and religion. Unlike "Radonezh", there is no politics in Radio Maria's programs, but only spiritual content.

There were 2 frequencies in operation - 92.6 MHz in Vyborg and 1053 kHz in St. Petersburg. The audience in St. Petersburg is 5.5 million people.

The main feature of “Radio Maria” is joint prayers: morning, afternoon by the hour, mysterious Rosaries - prayers for the Virgin Mary.
Radio Maria also broadcast live masses from the Catholic Church on Nevsky Prospekt, 32-34:Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Orthodox Divine Liturgies from Prince Vladimir Cathedral on Zagorodny Prospekt (official address - Blokhina St., 26) in St. Petersburg.

The reason for the end of Radio Maria broadcasting on medium waves

If you check using the details of the owner of the radio station - TIN 7805071261, KPP 783801001, OGRN 1027802717931 on the Roskomnadzor website:

https://rkn.gov.ru/activity/mass-media/for-broadcasters/teleradio/?

Result:

Current broadcast license for Radio Maria:
L033-00114-77/00269119 dated May 19, 2022.

The license allows the radio station "Radio Maria" to broadcast in St. Petersburg and Vyborg until April 12, 2035.

At the same time, the radio broadcasting license RV No. 23259 from April 4, 2013. Apparently it hasn't been extended? That is, the contract with the broadcaster - the owner of the transmitter in the village of Olgino - has ended -Radio center No. 1 of the branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "RTRS" "St. Petersburg Regional Center"?

Although I don’t know the exact reason for the cessation of broadcasting on medium waves with a license valid until 2023, it can be assumed that it is related to insufficient funding.

Broadcasting via Internet

Broadcasting continues on the Internet.

🔊 Listen to Radio Maria in Russian

Sources:

• VCFM.ru - Forum - message from user s1tv - Today 04/26/2026, 02:36
• Official website of "Radio Maria" - "Contacts"
• Page for obtaining an extract about broadcaster licenses on the Roskomnadzor website

Related publications

Radio Maria has restored broadcasting on a frequency of 1053 kHz from the radio center in Olgino

(Link to MuromDX): Russian-language HF/MW broadcasting plan - Summer 2025

Medium wave band scan at 19:00 in St. Petersburg

Radio Augusta transmitter arrested in Belgium

621 kHz - musical radio station from Tiraspol "Radio Odin Plus"