Putin Upgrades Secret Cold War Bunker for Nuclear War Survival
Russia has modernized a deep-mountain command center designed to withstand nuclear attacks and ensure retaliatory capabilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen the significant upgrade of a secret, Cold War-era command center located deep within a mountain, designed to survive direct nuclear strikes and maintain Russia's retaliatory capacity.
The bunker, known as Facility 1335 and situated at Kosvinsky Kamen mountain in the Ural Mountains, has been the subject of a modernization project by the Russian Ministry of Defense since 2018, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times, Danwatch, and Dossier Center.
Images from inside the facility reveal an ominous staging area adorned with posters depicting missiles, explosions, and Russian military personnel. Facility 1335 is one of several bomb-proof shelters constructed across Russia during the Cold War as part of the Kremlin's Perimeter system, often referred to in the West as "Dead Hand." This system was intended to ensure that Russia's nuclear forces could be activated even if leadership was incapacitated.
The Kosvinsky Kamen bunker is buried under more than 1,000 feet of solid granite, providing protection against current American bunker-buster bomb technology. The facility, initially built in the 1970s, reportedly features at least 24 underground rooms and extensive tunnel networks stretching approximately 1.5 miles from the entrances.
Recent procurement contracts, spanning from 2018 to 2024, indicate substantial investment in upgrading the facility for modern warfare. These contracts include the acquisition of vast quantities of steel, cement, electrical cable, ventilation units, heavy machinery, and drilling tools. Some of the ventilation equipment is designed to filter radioactive dust, and new blast-resistant equipment and communication systems have reportedly been installed.
Satellite imagery has also shown ongoing construction and repair work at various sections of the bunker, including the addition of new entrances between 2022 and 2025. Experts suggest these upgrades point to an expansion of the facility and reinforcement of its defenses.
Tom Roseth, an expert in Russian security policy, noted that the expansion of Facility 1335 aligns with a broader prioritization of Russia's nuclear forces. He stated that the Perimeter system is likely being re-emphasized due to the current tense geopolitical climate and Russia's perception of conflict with the West.