Vertushka

The Vertushka also known as Kremlyovka or Spetssvyaz is a colloquial name for a closed system of party and government telephone communications in the Soviet Union and Russia. It received the unofficial (slang) name Vertushka because, unlike the regular telephone network, where at that time the connection was made through an operator, subscribers connected to each other using an automatic telephone exchange and a rotary dials called in Russian Vertushka. The existence of the system was a novelty in an era dominated by manual switchboards. Certain sub-systems of it directly link to the Kremlin. Especially in Soviet period, connected the leader to key subordinates, like regional party secretaries, high ranking military officials or important state-owned factory chiefs. The regularly modernized system of government ATS continues to operate to this day.

Wikipedia →