The city of Zarechny (also known as Penza-19) is a city officially closed to outsiders. Its main business is one the largest production centers specializing in developing hi-tech products used in providing the country’s national security. Due to the limited amount of resources, it is difficult to organize quality recreation and education in a closed city that lives and, in fact, works at one company.
Scroll down to see more
Sergey Poteryaev
The city of Zarechny (also known as Penza-19, located in the Penza region, 660 km from Moscow) has a population of around 60 thousand people and is a city officially closed to outsiders. The inaccessibility of the town works up a reputation of a mysterious place. Though our photographer had a chance to visit the town and check if there is any life on that "planet" (and even make some photos).
Sergey Poteryaev
Its main business, production entreprise Start named after M.V. Protsenko, is one of Rosatom’s largest production centers specializing in developing hi-tech products used in providing the country’s national security.
Sergey Poteryaev
It is thought that the level of well-being in closed cities is rather high. Due to the barrier that prevents the free movement of citizens, closed cities also have a lower level of crime. However, due to the limited amount of resources (human capital, in particular), it is difficult to organize quality recreation and education in a closed city that lives and, in fact, works at one company.
Sergey Poteryaev
The city has several areas of after-school activities for children while their parents are at work. One of them is the Children’s School of Art where approximately 800 children study. For the most part of these children it is the only way to have fun in such a reserved town.// The teachers of the school
Sergey Poteryaev
A closed city is an independent city in which industrial enterprises are located. They work on developing , preparing, storing, and utilizing weapons of mass destruction; processing radioactive and other materials; and contain military and other installations for which a special security protocol and guarding of state secrets—including special living conditions for residents—are established. // Alexey, 10 years old, learning to play the bass-balalaika for 2 years
Sergey Poteryaev
During the Soviet Union, closed cities were strictly classified: information on the existence and location of these cities was closed off to Soviet citizens who did not have security clearances. When calculating statistics, the population of closed cities was “spread out” to other population centers or added to large cities, such as regional capitals. // Nastya and Liza, both are 8 years old, learning to play the piano for several years
Sergey Poteryaev
Closed cities tended to be named as districts of cities: Chelyabinsk-40, Tomsk-7, Krasnoyarsk-26, Salsk-7, and so on. To keep in line with the conspiracy, house numbers in closed cities started with large numbers, as though they continued the streets in the “main city” they were attached to, which was the same for school numbers, public transportation routes, etc. // Polina, 9 years old, dancing ballet for 4 years
Sergey Poteryaev
Entry to the territory was allowed only to persons who worked at the local enterprise or to their relatives who had permanent residency (a propiska), while others could only enter on travel orders or a one-time permit. All adults in closed cities signed a non-disclosure form pertaining to their actual place of residence and information about the city. // Dima, 9 years old, learning to play piano for 6 years
Sergey Poteryaev
If people took a trip for vacation or went to study, they were supposed to answer questions about their place of residence according to the accepted story: for example, if a person lived in Chelyabinsk-70 (now Snezhinsk), he or she was supposed to tell others that they were from Chelyabinsk. // Vika & Masha, 12 years old, dancing ballet for 7 years
Sergey Poteryaev
A person could be held liable for disclosing information about living in a closed city, its location, and the nature of its production, even running the risk of criminal charges. // Andrei, 11 years old, learning to play baritone for 2 years
Sergey Poteryaev
In Soviet times, as compensation for the difficulties connected with living in closed cities, residents could freely purchase goods that were in short supply in open population centers. In most of these cities, the population received a supplement to their salary to compensate for any inconveniences. // Dasha & Yana, 10 years old, dancing ballet for 5 years
Sergey Poteryaev
Nowadays, the list of cities is declassified. In 2013, there were 44 closed cities, in which 1,252,200 people reside. That means that one out of every 115 Russian citizens lives in a closed city. These days, closed cities are fenced off with walls, barbed wire, and guards. // Solfegio classes
.jpg)
