Alexander Stepanovich Popov, a renowned Russian physicist and electrical engineer, entered history as the inventor of the radio telegraph. On May 7, 1896, he conducted successful experiments by connecting his device to a telegraph. The first message sent over a distance of 250 meters consisted of the words "Heinrich Hertz."

A report by Professor Skobeltzyn about this event has been preserved: "Popov conducted an experiment with a Hertz vibrator installed in a neighboring building on the opposite side of the yard. Despite the significant distance and stone walls that could have hindered the propagation of electrical waves, each signal that activated the vibrator was accompanied by a loud ringing sound."

This occurred a month before Guglielmo Marconi filed his application, and in some countries, the invention of radio is attributed to him.

However, this was not Popov's only achievement. Later, he improved his invention and applied it during exercises of the Black Sea Fleet. During the maneuvers on September 7, 1899, it was possible to maintain radio communication with the ships "Georgy Pobedonosets," "Three Saints," and "Captain Saken," which were 14 kilometers from the shore.

In early 1900, Popov's equipment was used for communication during the rescue operation of the battleship Apraxin near Gogland Island and for saving fishermen carried out to sea on an ice floe. The communication range reached 45 kilometers.

Among the first ships equipped with Popov's radio telegraph was the Arctic-class icebreaker "Ermak." At the same time, Popov was studying X-rays, making the first X-ray images of objects and human limbs in Russia.