Putin’s Secret Nuclear Bunker: Inside Russia’s Installation 1335
- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle have heavily invested in the renovation of Soviet-era nuclear bunkers, according to a joint investigation published by The Times, the...
- The primary focus of the renovation effort is Installation 1335, a specialized bunker located in the locality of Kytlym in central Russia.
- Investigative findings point to multiple motivations behind the expenditure on underground infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle have heavily invested in the renovation of Soviet-era nuclear bunkers, according to a joint investigation published by The Times, the Dossier Center, and Danwatch. Thousands of documents reviewed by the three outlets reveal that authorities have directed substantial funds and procurement contracts over the past fifteen years toward rebuilding subterranean shelters that fell into disuse following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Kytlym Facility and Ural Mountain Infrastructure
The primary focus of the renovation effort is Installation 1335, a specialized bunker located in the locality of Kytlym in central Russia. Dug into the flank of a mountain near Kovinski Kamen, one of the peaks of the Ural Mountains, the site occupies a vast terrain shielded by dense forests and completely isolated. The access route to the facility underwent reconstruction between 2020 and 2021 and remains under permanent guard by Russian soldiers. Inside the mountain, the underground network has been significantly expanded. Today, the complex comprises 24 subterranean spaces equipped with ventilation systems and tunnels measuring four to ten meters in height that extend for several kilometers. A functioning nuclear program operates at the location alongside a military training center that has hosted regular troop exercises in recent years.
Strategic Deterrence and Security Concerns
Investigative findings point to multiple motivations behind the expenditure on underground infrastructure. According to sources cited in the investigation, Vladimir Putin has grown increasingly concerned about the capability of potential American attacks to strike deep underground targets and eliminate key leadership objectives. Other analysts suggest a different strategy, proposing that Russian intelligence services may be intentionally leaking details of the bunker renovations as part of a nuclear deterrence campaign. By publicizing the hardened infrastructure, Moscow aims to project readiness and send a calculated signal to foreign powers about its capacity to withstand a strategic strike.