Russia revives Cold War-era nuclear command bunker in the Urals
Satellite imagery and photographs show Russia has significantly expanded a Cold War-era underground command center called "Object 1335" in the Urals, designed to ensure a nuclear retaliatory strike even if the country's leadership is destroyed. The facility, part of the "Perimeter" system, reportedly became operational in 2023.
Russia has revived and expanded a massive Cold War-era underground command bunker known as "Object 1335" in a remote part of the Ural Mountains, according to satellite images, construction documents and photographs posted online by Russian soldiers, the British outlet Daily Mail reports.
The facility was originally built to guarantee Russia's ability to launch a retaliatory strike even if a devastating attack severed communications with national leadership. From this site, radio signals would be transmitted after such an attack to mobile missile launchers and any surviving missile silos to carry out a full-scale response.
Extensive construction work
A joint investigation by The Sunday Times, Danwatch and the Dossier Centre uncovered construction work worth hundreds of millions of pounds, including new tunnels and at least 24 underground chambers. Satellite images show large-scale construction activity and a substantial military presence at the site. One newly released photograph shows a man standing in a tunnel four meters wide and ten meters high, matching construction blueprints obtained during the investigation.
It is estimated that building the giant bunker required roughly 20,000 tonnes of steel — enough for three Eiffel Towers — and about 150,000 square meters of concrete.
Part of the "Perimeter" system
"Object 1335" is linked to Russia's "Perimeter" nuclear retaliation system. Putin hinted at its revival as early as 2020, when he announced the completion of construction on what he called an absolutely secure nuclear command center — around the same time major work began at the mountain site. Russian military sources confirm the facility entered combat duty in 2023.
Norwegian defense expert Tom Røseth notes that Russia continues to dig deeper and modernize its command infrastructure to shield it from any possible strike amid rising international tensions. Above ground, the military base used for training personnel has also been considerably expanded. The United States is pursuing similar modernization of its own underground command posts, renovating bunker complexes in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
