Ukrainian T-shaped Radio telescope, second modification, Radio telescope in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine

The Ukrainian T-shaped Radio Telescope, or UTR-2, is a radio astronomy facility in Volokhiv Yar built with thousands of dipole antenna elements. These are arranged in two perpendicular arms that stretch across a large field to detect radio signals from space at low frequencies.

Construction was completed in 1969 according to Russian sources, while English sources give 1972; the telescope was built on the initiative of academician S. Ya. Braude. It belongs to the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and forms part of the URAN interferometer. In 2022, combat actions severely damaged the telescope and completely destroyed the building housing the measuring complex, scientific equipment and staff quarters.

The UTR-2 was built on the initiative of academician Semyon Braude, after whom the observatory's scientific tradition is often traced. It forms part of the URAN decametric VLBI network together with four smaller low-frequency telescopes, with baselines from 40 to 900 km. Foreign scientists have remained involved in its work and stay optimistic about its future despite the damage of 2022.

This is an active research facility that typically requires advance permission to visit. It is best to contact the institute ahead of time to arrange access and learn about visiting options.

The telescope was designed so its two arms function in perfectly perpendicular arrangement, allowing special observation techniques not possible with other designs. This specific geometry makes it one of very few facilities worldwide built this way.