Background. To ensure the integrity, stability of operation and security of the unified telecommunication network of the Russian Federation, as well as to solve the issues of electromagnetic compatibility of radio-relay communication facilities, it is required to use antennas that satisfy both mandatory requirements fixed at the legislative level and requirements of a recommendatory nature of international and regional levels. Aim. To establish compliance of the most frequently used zigzag antennas in radio-relay communication facilities with the requirements of the current legislation and international standards on the basis of numerical and experimental evaluation of their characteristics. Methods. On the basis of numerical methods the characteristics of the considered antennas were calculated, and also measurements of these characteristics were carried out in an anechoic shielded chamber. Results. The results of numerical and experimental estimation of gain, voltage standing wave ratio, antenna patterns, crosspolarization decoupling and complex impedance of the double zigzag antenna with UHF reflector of the radio-relay communication range are presented. It is shown that this antenna provides operation in a wide frequency band, and in the considered section of the range does not fully meet the requirements for antennas of radio-relay communications. Conclusion. On the basis of the analysis of the requirements of the current legislation and international requirements for the antennas of radio-relay communication facilities and the results of numerical and experimental evaluation of the characteristics of the antennas under consideration, it was established that they comply with the requirements of ITU Recommendations ITU-R F.699 in terms of the envelope level of antenna patterns, side and back radiation, except for the beginning of the range section, where there is some excess of the envelope level. The requirements of GOST R 50867-96 for the level of crosspolarization maxima (or the level of crosspolarization radiation in a given spatial sector of angles near the main radiation direction) are not met.