Russia Revives Cold War 'Dead Hand' Nuclear System
Massive expansion of underground command center suggests renewed emphasis on retaliatory strike capability.
Russia has significantly expanded a vast underground command center in the Ural Mountains, appearing to revive its Cold War-era "Dead Hand" nuclear strategy. The site, known as Facility 1335, is designed to ensure Russia's ability to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike even if its leadership and communication systems are destroyed in an initial attack.
Located near the village of Kytlym, hundreds of miles from major cities and surrounded by remote terrain, the expanded bunker is reportedly built to withstand American bunker-busting bombs. Satellite imagery, construction documents, and soldier-posted photographs reveal extensive construction, including new tunnels and underground chambers. Experts suggest this renewed investment signals the Kremlin's focus on maintaining nuclear command infrastructure survivability.
The "Perimeter" system, as it's known, was originally developed in the 1980s but is believed to have become dormant after the Cold War. However, recent reports indicate a revival and expansion of Facility 1335, coinciding with rising tensions and Russian President Vladimir Putin's increased rhetoric regarding nuclear escalation amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Investigation into the project, a joint effort by The Sunday Times, Danwatch, and the Dossier Centre, uncovered hundreds of millions of pounds worth of construction work, including approximately 20,000 tons of steel and 150,000 square meters of concrete. Procurement documents show orders for extensive cabling, lighting, ventilation units, and drilling tools dating from 2011 to 2024.
Russian military officials have described Facility 1335 as the location where "strategic missile forces will fulfil their historic mission of retaliation against any enemy." Retired Major General V.G. Khalin indicated in 2022 that the system's automation was planned for experimental combat duty, with Colonel Yu. Andreev stating it was placed on combat duty in 2023.
The expansion of this facility occurs as Russia upgrades its nuclear forces and faces increased pressure following its invasion of Ukraine. Danish intelligence has also warned of a "low but growing risk" of a Kremlin-ordered attack on a NATO country. This reinforcement of Russian nuclear infrastructure mirrors upgrades being undertaken by the United States at its own Cheyenne Mountain and Raven Rock Mountain complexes.