Closed cities of Russia: list, interesting facts. Life in a mailbox. history of closed cities in Russia and the USSR

They are under guard. After the breakup Soviet Union they ceased to be invisible, thanks to which we can learn a lot of interesting information about them.

Secret cities of Russia

As of today, there are 23 closed cities in the Russian Federation. However, their true role in the state still remains a mystery.

An interesting fact is that in Soviet time Closed cities (CG) have not been shown on any map in the world. Residents of such cities were assigned to nearby regional centers.

The numbering of transport routes, administrative and private buildings was not carried out from the beginning, but continued from the regional cities to which the ZATOs were classified.

To get there, visitors were carefully searched by government officials. It was also necessary to have a one-time pass and an appropriate entry permit.

When entering the territory of ZATO Russia, a person signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding any information.

Privileges for residents of SG

For obvious reasons, living in closed cities was not entirely convenient. That is why the state compensated for various inconveniences with benefits and increased comfort of life for those who became part of the secret mechanism of the powerful Soviet empire.

The stores sold scarce goods, and the level of medicine and education here was much higher than in ordinary cities.

In addition to this, residents of closed cities received a salary increase of 20%.

To get into any ZATO today, a person must be a relative of one of the local residents, who is obliged to first write an application for his entry.

However, there are closed cities around which there are neither walls nor numerous guards. It all depends on the level of secrecy.

It should be understood that traveling to some closed cities in Russia is much more difficult than crossing the state border illegally.

An interesting fact is that in total about 1 million live in ZATOs.

List of secret cities in Russia that are worth visiting

Now we present a list of secret cities that almost anyone can visit.

Seversk

Seversk is considered one of the largest closed cities. The reason for its appearance was the mining of uranium and plutonium. For this purpose, special chemical plants were built in Seversk.

The Siberian Nuclear Power Plant is also located here. In 1993, a serious accident occurred in the city, as a result of which about 2,000 people received a huge dose of radiation.

Sarov

The city of Sarov in 1966 received the name Arzamas-16. It bore this name until 1991. Sarov became closed in 1947, when nuclear tests began here under the leadership of I.V. Kurchatov. For these purposes, a unique complex was built.

It was in Arzamas-16 that Soviet scientists first created the atomic bomb, thanks to which the USSR was able to demonstrate its military and intellectual power to Western countries, maintaining global parity of power.

About 90 thousand people live in Sarov. Here you can visit museums containing copies of various nuclear weapons.

Near the city is the famous Sarov Hermitage. Once upon a time, Seraphim of Sarov, revered in Orthodoxy, lived in this place. Interestingly, under the desert there are underground cities where monks used to live, trying to hide from the bustle of the world.

Ozersk

This closed city, located in the Chelyabinsk region, is one of the first where they began to develop plutonium charges for atomic bombs. In the fall of 1945, plutonium processing plants began to be built here.

This project was listed under the name “Program No. 1” and was strictly classified. Many construction teams were sent here to erect the necessary buildings and install the appropriate equipment as quickly as possible.

Houses, medical and cultural institutions were built at an accelerated pace for workers.

In 1954, at the chemical plant named after. Mendeleev, the 6th reactor was successfully launched. Since that time, the village began to be called Chelyabinsk-40. In 1966, the number 40 was changed to 65.

Currently, Ozersk occupies an area exceeding 200 km², with a population of about 85,000 people. It houses 750 different businesses.

Snezhinsk

During the Soviet period, Snezhinsk was kept secret to protect the Russian nuclear center. It is this closed city that is the birthplace of the hydrogen bomb.

Today in Snezhinsk you can see many tunnels and various strange buildings. There are rumors that there may be a subway and other similar structures underground.

That is why digger excursions are organized here for tourists, which are in great demand.

Trekhgorny

Previously, this closed city was called Zlatoust-36. The main enterprise of the Closed Administrative Unit is the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Instrument-Making Plant". It produces equipment for Russian nuclear power plants and also creates ammunition.

Zheleznogorsk

The closed city of Zheleznogorsk is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The city was given secret status because of the mining chemical plant operating there, where plutonium-239 was mined.

Also in Zheleznogorsk there is an enterprise where satellites are produced. Mostly prisoners were involved in the construction of this city.

The plant began operating in 1958. In terms of military security, the project was of great importance not only for Russia, but also for the entire Soviet Union.

As a result, the reactors were installed in a granite mountain monolith at a depth of 300 m.

The designs and arrangements of the underground tunnels used for transportation were comparable in scale to the Moscow metro systems.

The height in some underground rooms exceeded 50 m. The plant could easily withstand even a nuclear bombardment.

Zelenogorsk

Previously, the ZATO was called Zaozerny-13, and later Krasnoyarsk-45. The city received secret status after an Electrochemical Plant was built there to produce enriched uranium and isotopes.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the company began to produce some household appliances, as well as components for plastic windows.

Today about 70 thousand people live in Zelenogorsk. The operating Krasnoyarskaya State District Power Plant is also located there.

Zarechny

This closed city was built on the site of a swamp in the wilderness. It was built according to a special project. The leading enterprise of the city is PA “Start”, which produces different kinds ammunition.

There is also an Institute that produces security technical devices. Today, there are more than 600 plants and factories in Zarechny.

Invisible cities now

Due to the collapse of the USSR, most of Russia's ZATOs found themselves in difficult conditions. Due to the cessation of funding and lack of demand for products, living in closed cities has become almost impossible.

Scientists and designers received extremely low salaries for their work, and many were left without work. In 1995, 20% of the population of secret cities were unemployed.

All this led to a “brain drain”. Leading specialists were forced to work in other countries just to feed themselves and their families.

Of course, closed cities in Russia even today have significant differences from ordinary populated areas. They, as before, have well-developed systems of education, medicine and culture.

In the end, it should be added that one should distinguish ZATOs from closed military towns (ZVG), which include military towns located in populated areas.

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How to get to the closed city? The task is difficult, but solvable. We will not use espionage methods or look for a hole in the fence, but will only list legal ways.

The first way to get into a closed city is to acquire close relatives there (blood or acquired). In this case, your relatives will write an entry request in your name, and after certain checks (up to two months) you will be able to visit the city. With foreign guests, of course, it is more difficult. The state, for obvious reasons, carefully protects its developments. So in this case it will take at least six months to obtain an entry permit.

The second way is scientific. Scientific conferences are held in closed cities, especially those affiliated with Minatom. For example, the famous Kharitonov readings have been held annually in Sarov for 10 years now, in memory of the outstanding scientist Yu.B. Khariton. There is an adult and children's program. The adult participants are those scientists who deal with problems related to the activities of the Sarov nuclear center. Usually these people also have information of a certain degree of secrecy and “belong to the clan.” Gifted schoolchildren from any Russian city can come to school readings, strictly without parents, but with a supervisor. So most often one leader takes a group of children at once. Children's readings are held in many disciplines: biology, computer science, literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. Passes to scientific, sports and cultural events (see below) are issued on average two months in advance.

The next path into closed space is cultural. Many closed cities hold various music and theater festivals of different types: from hard rock and teeth-grinding rap to classic folk songs. Most often, competitions are held either between “tired” ones, for example, such as the All-Russian Theater Competition of the Closed Administrative Unit "Territory of Culture of the Nuclear Industry", or competition participants from neighboring cities and towns come to the city. But if I contact the organizers in time and promise to weaken something really worthwhile, I can also let in participants who arrived from distant places.

All closed cities are for healthy image life. Their personnel are irreplaceable and valuable, so they must live long and not get sick. In this regard, children's and adult tournaments and competitions in numerous sports are regularly held, depending on what sports facilities the city or town has. For example, you can come to the city of Seversk in the Tomsk region with a team to play basketball, volleyball and hockey or take part in the Ozyorsk City Cup in racing on radio-controlled yachts. Information about sporting events can usually be found on the ZATO websites, and there will also be contact information for the organizers.

If you are an outstanding singer, musician or actor, you can come to the closed city with a concert. Of course, the organizers here are not very agile and will not attract expensive stars, and they will doubt the commercial success of immature ones. But a strong desire to cultivate boring residents can overcome all obstacles.

Open, that is, closed during the Soviet period settlements were not something surprising for Russia. Back in the 18th-19th centuries, there were closed Cossack settlements, cities built on occupied territories to control the local population and collect taxes, and border fortified cities.

Representatives of the media are also allowed into the ZATO without much desire, but in case of urgent need. Just like that - it’s unlikely. But if there is a serious reason, an event, or major officials have arrived, then they will allow it. Again, you need to order the pass in advance, and no amount of “we’re running out of deadlines” will speed things up.

Recently, middle and high educational institutions ZATO began accepting nonresident applicants. According to teachers, visitors often study much better and harder than local children. Many schools and universities in backwater cities are unique in their kind because they provide specialized education related to the peculiarities of the city, which, with good study, actually guarantees further work in the enterprise. In Seversk you can enter the Seversk State Technological Academy, in Sarov you can conquer the Sarov Physics and Technology Institute, in Ozyorsk you can graduate from the Ozyorsk Technological Institute, as well as branches of the MEPhI and SUSU institutes.

The last option is to be Artemy Lebedev, who has already visited the closed Sarov, Seversk and Zheleznogorsk. How he managed this is still unknown to science...


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The world is full of closed and secret places. Typically, such places are various bunkers, underground paths, buildings, etc. However, there are entire cities in the world that not everyone can get into. We have collected 6 of the most closed cities in the world and invite you to get to know them.

Sarov, Russia

In the USSR, the concept of a “closed city” was quite normal. For example, such cities at different times were Samara, Vladivostok and Nizhny Novgorod. However, after the collapse of the USSR, many previously closed cities lost this status. Today, the most closed and secret city is Sarov. You can only enter the city with a special pass. Sarov is surrounded by barbed wire, a trail road and surveillance cameras.

Pyongyang, North Korea

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It is impossible for journalists, Americans and South Koreans to get to Pyongyang. All other people can visit Pyongyang, but only if accompanied by a special group. In addition, the tourist will have to follow local rules and travel accompanied by a guide. The visa request should be made at least one and a half months before the visit.

Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia

Located in Saudi Arabia the cities of Mecca and Medina are closed to non-Muslims. Only you can get here if you are in a group of Muslim pilgrims. There is no concept of human rights within cities (in the European version we are familiar with). In themselves, the cities of Mecca and Medina are very beautiful cities, but it is simply impossible to get here as an ordinary tourist.

The city of Mecca is holy because the main shrine, the Kaaba, is located here. It is a large cube and is the center of Islam. And in the city of Medina, the prophet Muhammad himself lived and died.

Mogadishu, Somalia

On the World Policy Journal's list of the most closed countries, Somalia ranks second, just behind North Korea. The most closed and dangerous city in Somalia is Magadisho. It's been going on here for over 2 decades now. Civil War and the city authorities are unable to take control of the situation.

Secret ZATOs, which are closed territorial-administrative entities, trace their history back to the post-war days of the “cold confrontation” between the USSR and Western countries. Today, Russia's closed cities are located in 44 ZATOs under the protection of military patrols. Some of them are half a century old, but they stopped being invisible not so long ago - in 1992. Outstanding cities have a rich heritage and fascinating history. About this and much more - in the article.

Secret cities of Russia

There are 23 closed cities in our country. 10 of them belong to “nuclear” (Rosatom), 13 - to the Ministry of Defense, which is in charge of 32 ZATOs with villages. Closed administrative-type entities are under a special protection regime. Activity industrial enterprises and military facilities in an isolated area - this is

Closed cities (CG) in the USSR were classified and were not indicated on any map. The population was assigned to the nearest regional centers. The numbering of bus routes, houses and institutions was not carried out from the beginning, but continued what was introduced in regional cities, which included ZATOs. For example, school No. 64 in Sverdlovsk-45 (now Lesnoy).

Visitors were examined at a checkpoint. A one-time pass and a travel order gave the right to entry. Persons registered in a closed city or village had permanent passes. The dacha was mandatory; violation could even lead to criminal liability.

Privileges for residents of SG

The state compensated for the difficulties of living in an isolated facility with benefits and privileges. Supply at a high level made it possible to purchase goods in stores that were in short supply for other citizens of the country. Everyone, regardless of their field of activity, received a 20% salary increase. The social sphere, medicine, and education were well developed.

Many secret cities in Russia today are surrounded by rows of walls with barbed wire. The right to enter can be obtained if a local resident applies for a pass to a relative, but the relationship must be proven. You can get to sporting events in some ZATOs using a passport.

Now not all closed cities have fences and checkpoints; in some they are not guarded. It depends on the privacy mode. Sarov, the former Arzamas-16, is under serious protection: rows of barbed wire, a control strip, modern means tracking, vehicle inspection.

The total population of ZATO is more than a million people. Almost every 100th citizen of the Russian Federation lives in a closed city or village.

15 secret cities in Russia that are worth visiting

Among the ZG, Seversk, Tomsk region, stands out - this is the largest of the closed towns of nuclear heritage. Beautiful city with houses built according to individual projects. In second place is Sarov - a city of contrasts, the birthplace of atomic bombs with amazing holy places: the Sarov Desert and Diveevo.

The secret cities of Russia are concentrated mainly in the Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk territories and the Moscow region.

The Penza region is the birthplace of the city of Zarechny with one of the most powerful Rosatom complexes for the production of nuclear weapons elements. IN Sverdlovsk region On the banks of the Tura in picturesque places stands the city of Lesnoy, where a plant for the recycling and assembly of ammunition is located. Novouralsk is famous for its attractions: the Europe-Asia peak, green and black capes.

Closed cities Chelyabinsk region is Ozersk, Snezhinsk and Trekhgorny. Nuclear weapons were developed in Snezhinsk, stored and processed in Ozersk, and nuclear instrument making was carried out in Trekhgorny.

Zheleznogorsk and Zelenogorsk are closed cities. Zheleznogorsk is known for the production of plutonium, and Zelenogorsk specializes in uranium enrichment and isotope production.

ZG Ministry of Defense

Among the “military” SGs, it is definitely worth visiting Polyarny with the unique nature of the Kola Peninsula, Fokino - the main base of the fleet after Vladivostok. Znamensk is unique Astrakhan region, the only city among the villages belonging to missile forces. It houses a landfill.

The list of closed cities that are worth visiting is completed by Krasnoznamensk and Mirny, which are classified as aerospace defense facilities. In Krasnoznamensk, Moscow region, there is a management complex space flights and military satellites. Mirny, Arkhangelsk region, is located next to the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

Seversk

On the banks of the Tom River lies the largest of the closed cities - Seversk. Its foundation is associated with the construction of the Siberian Chemical Plant. The starting point of the enterprise's history is March 1949: the decision was made to build a complex for the production of uranium and plutonium. The Siberian Nuclear Power Plant, which ranks 2nd in Russia, is also located here.

As a result of the accident at the plant in 1993, almost 2,000 people were exposed to radiation.

Seversk is the sports center of the region: 6 children's and youth sports schools, a hockey and football club, and a figure skating group. Several future Olympic champions were trained in city sports schools. The city is distinguished by a developed education system: 21 general education educational institution, college and institute.

While in Seversk, you can visit two theaters, a cultural center, a museum, a zoo and a cinema. Four restaurants welcome guests, one is called “Cosmos”.

Sarov

Sarov, a closed city, traces its history back to 1706. While still a village in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in 1946 it came under the close attention of government officials and became a “pioneer” in the field of future nuclear research. The secret status is associated with a unique scientific complex of its kind - a nuclear center belonging to the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics.

The village became closed Arzamas-16 in 1947. The Center’s team consisted of several institutes, nuclear centers and design bureaus. A peace program has been launched nuclear tests. The center where the atomic bomb was first created has reached the international level due to its outstanding scientific achievements. Now there are more than 20,000 employees of the Institute, among them three academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, more than a hundred doctors, more than five hundred candidates.

In general, the city's population is almost 90 thousand people. There is a museum in memory of the achievements. In it you can see copies of equipment, nuclear weapons and the Tsar Bomb, which Khrushchev threatened America with.

Sarov is a closed city, striking in its uniqueness. Next to the achievements of nuclear scientists is a shrine known throughout the Orthodox world: Diveevo, In 1778. monastery became the place of novitiate of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Under the desert there are secret underground cities: catacombs and corridors where the monks found peace and solitude. There is a legend associated with them about a lake underground, which could be traveled by boat.

Ozersk

A closed city in the Chelyabinsk region, one of the pioneers of the nuclear industry, where a plutonium charge for atomic bombs was created. Its secret status is due to the city-forming Mayak Production Association. The company produces radioactive isotopes. The city is located among picturesque places and four lakes, so it is no coincidence that the ZATO was renamed from Chelyabinsk-65 to Ozersk. Let's dive into its history for a moment.

The birthday of Ozersk is considered to be November 9, 1945, when a construction group arrived in area No. 11, and thus began the construction of a plutonium processing plant and two villages. The work was carried out within the framework of a secret project (Program No. 1). The first builders were housed in hangars for local residents' farming. Labor was complicated by the lack of food and the lack of railways and roads. The number of workers and employees constantly exceeded the plan. Two- and three-story houses, a hospital campus, and a cultural park were erected.

In the spring of 1954, the 6th reactor was put into operation at the Mendeleev State Chemical Plant (the future Mayak). The village received the status of a city with the official name Chelyabinsk-40. In 1966, number 40 changed to 65. For old-timers, the city of Ozersk remained Sorokovka.

The territory of modern Ozersk is more than 200 km 2, and the population is more than 85 thousand people. The city has a developed diversified industry, which involves 750 enterprises.

The relatively young city of Ozersk is rich in historical and cultural monuments: sculptures, palaces, two ensembles of squares, public gardens. The architectural monuments include more than 50 masterpieces.

History of Snezhinsk and Trekhgorny

Secret regime in Snezhinsk ( Chelyabinsk region) was due to the safety of the Russian Nuclear Center - Institute of Technical Physics named after E. I. Zababakhin. The village of Chelyabinsk-70 received a new name in 1991, and 2 years later - city status. Now about 50 thousand people live in Science City.

Snezhinsk is a closed city with a rich past, the homeland where Baker, the US Secretary of State, visited in 1992. This cozy town with clean green streets keeps many secrets. In Snezhinsk you can see many different Soviet artifacts: tunnels, ventilation pipes sticking out of the ground, incomprehensible structures. Local residents suggest that a communications system may be located underground, and there is talk of the existence of an underground metro. Digger underground walks are organized for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Among the mountain slopes not far from the city there is a sanatorium. At the base you can rent skis and “fly” along the slopes of the Cherry Mountains. Several Snezhinsky lakes provide the opportunity to swim and sunbathe on hot summer days.

Trekhgorny

BUT Trekhgorny under Soviet rule was listed as Zlatoust-36. Almost 35 thousand people now live in Trekhgorny. The leading enterprise, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Instrument-Making Plant, produces equipment for nuclear power plants and collects ammunition.

Not far from the ZATO there is the South Ural Nature Reserve. It is rich in unique flora and fauna. Tourism and sports are developing in Trekhgorny thanks to the operating ski complex on the mountain slopes of Zavyalikha.

Zheleznogorsk

City of Zheleznogorsk - ZATO Krasnoyarsk Territory with a population of almost 100 thousand people. The secret status is associated with the Mining Chemistry Combine (MCC), which produces plutonium-239, and Information Satellite Systems OJSC, which produces satellites.

The birthday of ZG is considered to be February 26, 1950, when the decree on complex No. 815 for the production of plutonium was issued. Prisoners participated in the construction of a secret plant, a closed city and a railway road. Four years later the village received city status. The name “Zheleznogorsk” was then secret, but the official name was Krasnoyarsk-26. People called the closed city “Atomgrad”, “Sotsgorod” and “Nine”.

In 1958, the plant (GKH) was launched. The reactors were placed in a granite mountain monolith at a depth of three hundred meters. The underground tunnels for the plant's production and transport tasks are comparable in scale to the Moscow metro system and will withstand nuclear bombing. The height of the underground halls reaches 55 m.

The city of Zheleznogorsk is located on the banks of the Kantat River. This most beautiful places- Yenisei coast, Kurya River, Kantata Gorge. The secret “Atomgrad” itself is in harmony with the natural landscapes. From a great height the picture opens up: in the middle of forests there are residential areas with an abundance of green spaces.

There are 15 historical monuments in Zheleznogorsk: memorials, steles, obelisks, architectural compositions. Boiling cultural life: there are 3 museums, 6 theaters. There is a zoo, a cinema complex, a palace and a house of culture.

History of Zelenogorsk

ZG, formerly called Zaozerny-13, Krasnoyarsk-45, received secret status thanks to the Electrochemical Plant for the production of enriched uranium and isotopes. Afterwards, the plant opened additional production of televisions, monitors under the Green Mount brand, and plastic window profiles.

Place to bookmark secret city became the village of Ust-Barga on the Kan River. In 1956, the village turned into ZG. Almost 70 thousand people now live in the city. There is a large Krasnoyarskaya state district power station and a construction department that conducts work throughout Siberia.

Zelenogorsk differs from a typical Soviet town with beautiful houses with lawns, wide avenues, and numerous public gardens. There are two museums in the city: “military glory” and “exhibition center”. You can visit the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Not long ago, the cadet corps celebrated its tenth anniversary. Military training in Vityaz is available not only to boys, but also to girls.

Zarechny

ZG of the Penza region dates back to 1954. The site for the construction of Zarechny was a swampy dense forest. The city was created according to an individual project. Each neighborhood is now separated by green spaces. The features of any area are the configuration, architecture, compositions unique to it.

The main production enterprise is PA “Start” for the production of ammunition. High-tech instrument engineering is carried out by the PPZ of the machine-building plant. The scientific center is the Institute, which produces security technical equipment.

Today Zarechny is a developed industrial area with more than 600 enterprises. The city has developed transport, social and communal areas, and health.

"Invisible cities" today

The collapse of the USSR put Russia's closed cities not just in difficult conditions, but on the brink of extinction. Funding for R&D was stopped as demand fell, and the privileges accorded to secret facilities were no longer available. The decline in production, due to the narrow production profile, was inevitable. People with highly qualified They began to receive “kopecks” at best, and at worst they were left without work.

The market dictated its terms. The presence of orders for mass production did not help create jobs, but led to unemployment. It was an order of magnitude higher in closed cities than in Russia. By the end of 1995, 20% of the population “sat” without work in ZATO. The unique potential of the intellectual elite, scientists, and designers turned out to be unclaimed.

There was an acute problem of “brain drain”, which did not go unnoticed. There is American intelligence data about former specialists from closed cities developing atomic weapons for Brazil, Libya, Iran.

A more significant problem was the “retention” of personnel to prevent possible disasters and preserve technology. In 1998, tax incentives were introduced for business in ZATO. New firms created jobs. Since 2000, benefits have been partially abolished, and in 2004 they stopped completely.

The secret cities of Russia today still stand out among ordinary ones. The sphere of culture, medicine, and education are developed. Clean streets, surrounded by green spaces and flower beds, architectural ensembles. Highly qualified specialists still work here: nuclear scientists, engineers, designers. They know how to work with state-of-the-art technologies, but, unfortunately, most of them are not employed scientific work. Thus, without the support of the state and big business, the unique potential of closed cities is leaking away.

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