Imagine living in a city whose name doesn’t appear on any conventional map, and whose access is strictly controlled. This isn’t a spy movie scenario, but the everyday reality of Russia’s closed cities, officially known as ZATOs (Closed Administrative-Territorial Entities). These cities typically house secret facilities like factories or military bases and, in some cases, can be visited with special permits or guided tours.
What is a Closed City?
A closed city (ZATO) is a settlement where access and residence are restricted due to the presence of sensitive military, nuclear, or scientific facilities. These cities first appeared in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, designed to protect strategic state secrets.
Currently, Russia officially maintains 38 closed cities, housing around 1.5 million residents. Most are managed by the Ministry of Defense or Rosatom, the state nuclear agency.
Closed cities are a complex phenomenon rooted historically in protecting sensitive activities, especially military and nuclear operations. Although the Cold War context has faded, many of these cities remain in the Russian Federation under ZATO status, still maintaining access restrictions. However, some have partially opened their doors through special permits and limited tourism, offering a glimpse into the life and history behind these historically secretive territories.
Legislation and administrative status of ZATOs vary regionally within Russia. The concept of a closed city isn’t exclusive to the USSR/Russia, as similar forms exist or have existed in various countries for security and restrictive reasons.
Categories of Closed Cities
Closed cities were established in the Soviet Union starting in the late 1940s under the euphemism “mailboxes.”
There were two main categories:
- Small communities with sensitive military, industrial, or scientific facilities (weaponry, nuclear research). Access was restricted even for Soviet citizens without authorization. Examples: Ozyorsk (plutonium production), Sillamäe (uranium enrichment).
- Border cities or border areas closed for security reasons. Special permits were required to enter.
The locations for the first category were chosen for their remote geography, often in the Urals and Siberia, near water sources essential for heavy industry and nuclear technology.
Movement to and from these areas was strictly controlled, with foreigners banned and rigorous restrictions placed on local residents, including special travel permits and vetting by security agencies. Some cities were surrounded by fences guarded by armed security.
Russia currently has the world’s highest number of closed cities. Following the adoption of the new Russian constitution in 1993, closed cities were renamed as “Closed Administrative-Territorial Entities” (ZATO). Besides the 38 known ZATO cities, it’s estimated there are approximately 15 additional closed cities whose locations have not been publicly disclosed by the Russian government.
5 Prominent Examples of Closed Cities in Russia
Zheleznogorsk (Krasnoyarsk Region)
Known for a significant chemical plant producing weapons-grade plutonium since 1950, and also for satellite production. The town was known as Krasnoyarsk-26, as well as “Socialist Town,” “Steel City,” “The Nine,” and “Atomic City.”
Besides plutonium, electricity and heat sources were also produced via graphite-moderated water reactors until 2010, when the last reactor closed.
You can enter through invitations from family members or business trips. More info.
Zvezdny Gorodok (Moscow): Star City
Star City (Zvyozdni Gorodok in Russian) is the training center where Russian cosmonauts were prepared for their pioneering space journeys.
Since the late 1960s, this center has been named after Yuri Gagarin (GCTC) in honor of the first cosmonaut in space. Accessible via organized tourist visits.
Sarov (Nizhny Novgorod)
Russia’s center for nuclear weapon development. Strongly controlled but allows limited access for work or specific events. A special pass is required.
After 1946, Sarov had up to six code names: “Object-550,” “Base 112,” “Privolzhskaya kontora of Glavgorstroy,” “Kremlyov,” “Arzamas-16,” and “Arzamas-75.” These numerical codes were common for Russia’s closed cities, and the numbers had no specific meaning (there weren’t 74 other secret cities in Arzamas).
Severomorsk (Murmansk)
Main base of Russia’s powerful Northern Fleet. Tourist access is possible through specialized agencies with a month’s advance notice.
Attractions include the Aviation Museum, Severomorsk City and Fleet History Museum, and Gagarin House.
Mirny (Arkhangelsk)
Founded in 1957 for workers of a ballistic missile launch facility. It was granted city status in 1966 due to the development of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
The existence of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome was initially secret until 1966 when British professor Geoffrey Perry and his students discovered, by analyzing the orbit of satellite Cosmos 112, that it hadn’t been launched from Baikonur.
After the Cold War, it was revealed that the CIA had already suspected a launch site at Plesetsk since the late 1950s, although the Soviet Union didn’t officially acknowledge its existence until 1983. More about visits.
The Future of Russia’s Closed Cities
Secret cities or ZATOs have been a symbol of the Soviet era and continue to play a strategic role in modern Russia. In recent decades, some ZATOs have gradually opened, allowing limited foreign investments and organized visits under strict control. Cities like Zvezdny Gorodok (Cosmonaut Training Center) or Sarov (nuclear research) began cooperating with international organizations on specific projects, though the War in Ukraine has halted most of these activities.
Many secret cities were created around military or nuclear technologies that may become obsolete or strategically irrelevant. Some ZATOs already face the challenge of transforming their local economies to guarantee employment and social stability. Technology diversification programs could convert these cities into civilian or industrial research centers in advanced fields like computing, nanotechnology, or renewable energy.
Despite possible partial opening, current geopolitical tensions suggest many secret cities will maintain their closed status due to strategic and national security concerns. Russia’s military modernization and renewed global competition increase the strategic value of these sites, ensuring many ZATOs will remain closed, especially those directly related to nuclear weapons or space technology.
List of Closed Administrative-Territorial Entities (ZATO)
Republic of Bashkortostan
- Mezhgorye
Altai Region
- Sibirsky
Krasnoyarsk Region
- Zheleznogorsk (Podgorny, Dodonovo, Novy Put, Tartat, Shivera)
- Zelenogorsk
- Solnechny
Primorsky Krai
- Fokino (Dunay, Putyatin)
Amur Region
- Tsiolkovsky
Arkhangelsk Region
- Mirny
Astrakhan Region
- Znamensk
Vladimir Region
- Raduzhny
Kamchatka Krai
- Vilyuchinsk
Moscow Region
- Krasnoznamensk
- Vlasikha
- Voskhod
- Star City (Zvyozdny Gorodok)
- Molodezhny
Murmansk Region
- Aleksandrovsk (Gadzhiyevo, Polyarny, Snezhnogorsk, Kuvshinskaya Salma, Olenya Guba, Sayda-Guba)
- Zaozersk
- Ostrovnoy (Lumbovka, Korabelnoye, Svyatoy Nos, Mys-Cherny, Mayak-Gorodetsky, Tersko-Orlovsky Mayak)
- Severomorsk (Safonovo, Severomorsk-3, Shchukozero)
- Vidyaevo
Nizhny Novgorod Region
- Sarov
Orenburg Region
- Komarovsky
Penza Region
- Zarechny
Perm Region
- Zvezdny
Saratov Region
- Svetly
Sverdlovsk Region
- Lesnoy (Elkino, Tayezhny, Chashchavita, Bushuevka)
- Novouralsk (Murzinka, Taraskovo, Palniki, Pochinok, Yelan)
- Svobodny
- Uralsky
Tver Region
- Ozerny
- Solnechny
Tomsk Region
- Seversk (Samus, Orlovka, Kizhirovo, Chernilshchikovo, Semiozerki)
Chelyabinsk Region
- Ozersk (Novogorny, Tatysh, Metlino, Bizhelyak, Selezni, Novaya Techa)
- Snezhinsk (Blizhniy Beregovoy, Klyuchi)
- Trekhgorny
Transbaikal Territory
- Gorny
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