Nukes n' shit

Today I invite you to a virtual tour of the place where the USSR kept it's nuclear warheads...

The place is known as 1893 подвижная ремонтно-техническая база (1893rd mobile repair and technical base), and although the name may not make sense, all nuclear bases were given the same titles. This was likely done to mislead the enemy, there's nothing mobile about a massive nuke-proof bunker. The 1893rd division is just one of many nuclear bases, and it is unclear exactly how many there were. Some bases are still in use and heavily guarded to this day.

The layout of the 1893rd division:

The main entrance has a large door in the middle for transporting nuclear warheads, and a smaller door on the left for personnel.

How the door for personnel looks now:

Metal thieves tried to take it, but as they're made from solid metal, nobody was able to lift them out, even until this day they're in the same place.

Trough the tunnel we go...

The first room is for the ventilation systems. Unlike for modern nukes, the old ones had to be kept in very stable moisture and temperature conditions, thus the massive equipment that once stood here...

Full view of the room:

We finally reach the main storage area, on the ceiling there's a massive rail for a crane that used to load/unload the wagons - yes, the nuclear warheads must only be transported by rail, as even the slightest nudge might effect it's reliability. 

The main entry from the inside. Once there stood several half-meter thick doors...

Before pressing the button to open/close the gate CHECK that there are no MANUAL CONTROL HANDLES on the winches or PEOPLE in the niches of the doors.

That's the nuclear warhead assembly room, there's signs on the walls to not use devices above 36 volts, to wear anti-static clothing and in general be careful, in the ceiling there used to be a metallized glass window above which there was a lightbulb. Why? Well, in order to avoid introducing electrical charges in the sensitive equipment, as even a tiniest spark could set off the arming mechanism and the whole complex would be blown apart by the nuclear blast... 

Last look at the warehouse.

And the sections for storage.

For now, that's it, I can say it was certainly an unforgettable experience visiting this relic of the cold war, after all, the earth's destiny depended on this place like no other's, one mistake here and it would all come to an end...