Moscow's bomb shelters - is it safe in the capital?

According to statistics, in Moscow there are a little less than 12 million people. Every day about 3 million tourists visit the capital of Russia. The question arises as to how safe it is to walk in the white-stone today. If a war begins, where should such a large number of people flee? The Ministry of Emergency Situations is confident that Moscow's bomb shelters will be able to accommodate all residents and visitors of the capital. It is worth investigating where the nearest shelters are, how they are organized and what has changed since the Great Patriotic War.

Metro in the capital

It is easy to guess that 14 lines of the Moscow metro, with a length of more than 300 kilometers - are the most accessible to ordinary residents bomb shelters in Moscow.

Back in 1935 the first subway line was opened. Two years later, the country's leadership took care of the construction of special shelters for themselves and members of the NKVD. The first was located near the station "Kirovskaya", the second on the Soviet Square.

In the autumn of 1941 the capital almost lost its strategically important facilities, including the underground. It seemed that Moscow could not be saved - the capital was hurriedly left by the residents and the military. October 16, on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, they were to dismantle and blow up the metro.

At the last moment, Stalin changed his mind, and Moscow's bomb shelters, like the city itself, were saved.

Interestingly, during air attacks, the metropolitan underground became a real city. It opened shops and hairdressers. And at the metro station "Kurskaya" you could visit the library.

Availability of secret objects

It turns out that today any guest of the capital can visit such military facilities as Moscow's bomb shelters. Photo, however, according to the rules of using the subway, you can not do. However, modern equipment makes it possible to capture an underground shelter imperceptibly and safely on the phone.

That is why a complete list of shelters can not be found. Moreover, many bomb shelters have been kept secret since the war. For example, it was only in 2004 that they learned about such an air defense shelter. Then the journalists dubbed the found "subway" - "Metro-2".

Shelter today

Contemporaries, of course, are more interested in whether Moscow's air-raid shelters can accept all residents and visitors of the capital and how safe it is to wait for an air attack underground.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations is sure that there are enough subways in the capital capable of protecting Muscovites. Moreover, the Ministry, by agreement, is ready to arrange indicative excursions. In the autumn of this year, bloggers studied the bomb shelter on Altufevskoe highway and came to the conclusion that the shelter was ready for the start of a sudden war. Doors are heavy and airtight, sleeping places are in order, there is a first aid kit and anti-radiation suits.

According to general calculations, about 2 million people will be able to take shelter in the underground. 8 thousand will save the basement under the business center "Moscow City". Also in the center of the capital there are about 1,200 bunkers. However, there is no exact data on how many underground shelters exist today. This is a military secret. Therefore, it is necessary to believe the Ministry for Emergency Situations on the word that in case of war everyone will be able to save themselves.

How to find the nearest bomb shelter?

Despite the classification of secrecy, it is not difficult to partially find the bombproof shelter in Moscow. The addresses of most of them are on the map of the Moscow metro.

In addition, you can hide from bombs practically in any cellar of a modern high-rise building. And the houses themselves have been building "bombproof" lately: with plastic windows and safe-doors.

According to unofficial data, more than a hundred facilities intended for bomb shelters are currently under construction.

What is noteworthy, the rules of using underground shelters since the war virtually did not change. Vaults are only for people. They can not smoke, drink alcohol and act aggressively. Children, pensioners and people with disabilities should be supported and assisted. In addition, modern regulations prohibit the use of cell phones and cameras underground.