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During Stalin's rule in the 1950s, a mysterious metro network began to be built in Moscow
O Moscow metro It is famous for its beautiful and luxurious stations, considered true works of art. However, few people know about the possible existence of a parallel and secret subway network, shrouded in mystery and speculation. This underground line, codenamed D-6, was supposedly built during Stalin's time during the Cold War and remains an enigma to many.
The Origin of D-6: A Secret Stalinist-Era Metro Network
Construction of the secret metro network is believed to have begun in the 1950s, when Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist. The Cold War context and the need to protect the Soviet leadership in the event of a nuclear attack may have motivated the creation of this project.
The name “Metro-2” is also used to refer to this work, and it is speculated that it is located between 50 and 200 meters below the surface.
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Over the years, the existence of the D-6 was largely considered an urban legend, debunked by many. However, in 1991, a report by the United States Department of Defense, entitled “Military Forces in Transition“, mentioned the secret network, bringing new light to the issue.
“The Soviets built a deep underground both in the urban area of Moscow and outside the city. These facilities are interconnected by a network of interconnected deep subway lines that provide a quick and safe means of evacuation for the leadership.
Leadership can move from their offices in peacetime through hidden entrances into protective quarters beneath the city. There are important deep underground command posts in the Moscow area, one located in the Kremlin.
The Soviet press noted the presence of a huge underground leadership bunker adjacent to Moscow State University. These facilities are intended for the national command authority in times of war. They are estimated to be between 200 m (660 ft) and 300 m (980 ft) deep and can accommodate about 10.000 people.
The document pointed out that the USSR had built a deep underground complex, interconnected by a subway line, that would allow the Soviet leadership to move around safely during times of war.
Official evidence and reports from Russian authorities
The first public confirmation of the D-6 network came not from Russian sources, but from this US document. According to the report, the network connected the Kremlin to deep underground command posts, some with the capacity to accommodate up to 10.000 personnel.
There was also the possibility of evacuating the leadership through entries hidden, directly linked to the offices in Moscow.
However, the first official Russian information about Metro-2 emerged only in 2004, when Vladimir Shevchenko, a former advisor to Gorbachev, Yeltsin and Putin, acknowledged the existence of the underground line.
However, he downplayed its significance, stating that the underground communications had been greatly exaggerated. According to Shevchenko, there was indeed a single-track railway line connecting the Kremlin to Stalin's dacha in Volynskoye, but it was no longer in use.
In 2007, the Russian news agency Tass briefly mentioned the D-6 network, confirming that it was under the control of the FSB, the Russian intelligence service.
The then director of the Moscow Metro, Dmitry Gaev, even suggested that the tunnels could be used to relieve the city's transport system. However, the decision would be up to the authorities responsible for national security.
D-6 specifications: Equipment and structure
nashtransport.ru ).
Little is known about what actually exists within this mysterious network. Some photos allegedly linked to D-6 were released in 2012 on the website nashtransport.ru, which specializes in Russian transport.
The images show tunnels and armored gates, which would serve to protect the accesses and sections of the tunnels, transforming them into nuclear shelters during emergencies.
The rolling stock used on the D-6 network was also detailed by experts. Among the vehicles, locomotives stand out electric battery and Ezh6 metro cars, manufactured by the Metrowagonmash company.
According to reports, in 2003, the Russian government ordered diesel trains specifically for this line, with engines located under the floor and compatible with Euro-3 standards.
The future of D-6: Use or abandonment?
nashtransport.ru ).
Little is currently known about the operational status of D-6. In interviews with former Russian government officials, such as Mikhail Poltoranin, a former minister under Boris Yeltsin, the secret line is described as a sprawling network of tunnels designed to protect the country's nuclear forces and shelter the Soviet leadership in the event of war.
Poltoranin said the network had branches that extended to the outskirts of Moscow, allowing the Soviet command to distance itself from the epicenter of a nuclear attack.
Furthermore, Svetlana Razina, a spokeswoman for the Moscow Metro, stated in 2008 that drivers were recruited to operate secret routes on the underground network, although few were selected.
She also mentioned that these tunnels were used by short trains consisting of battery-electric locomotives and a single passenger car.
A mystery that continues
nashtransport.ru ).
Metro-2, or D-6, remains one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Russia’s infrastructure. Although some authorities have acknowledged its existence, the network remains shrouded in secrecy and speculation. The lack of official maps and restricted access to these tunnels make it nearly impossible for the public to know precisely where they are located and how long they actually are.
Photos posted on specialist websites suggest that the network is made up of hermetic gates, similar to those found in other metro networks built during the Soviet era. These gates are designed to create watertight sections capable of withstanding nuclear attacks and sheltering thousands of people if necessary.
While some experts advocate using these tunnels to relieve Moscow’s transportation system, the final decision remains in the hands of the country’s security authorities. However, with advances in defense technologies and changes in the geopolitical landscape, the D-6 may end up becoming just a relic of the Cold War.
The history of the D-6 and its possible future use is a topic that arouses the interest of many. If you want to know more about Moscow's underground infrastructure or other mysteries related to Russia, keep following our reports! After all, secrets like that of Metro-2 can reveal a lot about the past and future of global security.
