The city of Sarov did not appear on the maps and was stuck in the era of the Soviet Union

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The city of Sarov is a closed administrative-territorial entity in the Volga region, which today attracts the attention of many Russian citizens. Although not everyone fully understands the consequences of such a move and some of the features of life, work in such a settlement. Usually, difficulties are not mentioned when a specialist is needed in a certain place. But in the case of ZATO there are also pluses, moreover, their number is always greater.

As for this particular city, it has many advantages not only in our time. Under the Soviet Union, there were also more than enough of them. To some extent, and today it is an echo of a bygone era. To some extent, the city seems to be stuck in the Soviet era. Of course, its development does not stand still, however, it happens according to a number of internal rules and a schedule. But, as before, he has the status of a closed city, and hence the corresponding way of life.

1. A bit of history

At all times, this area was sacred. Hermits, monks and monks have chosen these holy lands for the construction of their cells from ancient times. In the eighteenth century, they were chosen for settlement by Seraphim of Sarov, who is considered one of the most revered saints in the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the Soviet era, the local monastery, like many other churches in the country, was closed. Instead, the employees of the NKVD settled here homeless children, of whom there were too many in the post-war period (civil war) in Kiev, Leningrad and Moscow. Teenage children were organized into a so-called labor commune, in which they were engaged in intensive re-education. The purpose of this event is to make them new full-fledged citizens of the USSR.

2. Global changes in Sarov

Life in the town of Sarov changed after the launch of an atomic project in the Union. This means that the fate of the settlement was decided in the Kremlin. For the construction of KB-11, a secret facility, Kharitonov and Kurchatov chose this particular city. Here work began on the invention, development of the atomic bomb and its creation. In this regard, already in the 47th year, the city of Sarov was removed from all maps, the USSR, the RSFSR and even the Mordovian SSR. It did not appear in encyclopedias and atlases either.

During the existence of ZATO, the name has changed several times: Arzamas-75, Arzamas-16, Kremlin, Moscow Center-300, KB-11. For decades, the city was responsible for the nuclear safety of one sixth of the land. Famous scientists, famous nuclear physicists were redirected here, among whom was A. D. Sakharov.

An exemplary socialist city was created in Sarov. By the end of the forties, two-apartment prefabricated panel houses were erected for builders and scientists, which they received from Finland immediately after the end of the Second World War. The main temples of the monastery were destroyed in the fifties. Instead of them, new buildings are being built, a completely different architecture appears. In fact, a "communist paradise" was being built here, and for this a "special contingent" was involved.

The city grew rapidly. Young specialists with their families and graduates of polytechnics began to come here on special vouchers. Of course, they were promised mountains of gold. And the most interesting thing is that this is exactly the case when all the promised citizens received. The specialists were provided with an excellent apartment, high salaries, and food products were freely available in stores.

In addition to everything, all specialists received cardless meals three times a day in canteens and they were given “letter” cards for purchasing goods of various groups and products. The flow of people wishing to live and work here increased, the city gradually expanded.

The elite of this amazing atomic city, represented by academicians and engineers, lived in approximately the same way as the members of the Politburo did in Moscow. They had at their disposal company cars, cottages, special distributors of goods from the group of essential necessities and products.

The meeting of the last decade of socialism in the city took place to the sound of demonstrations. The scale of housing construction remained at the same broad level, people received high wages (premiums here were up to 75 percent). Some specialists even made translations for their loved ones who remained in their hometown. And most importantly, people here felt different, special.

Take even a visit to the city. Only those who lived in Sarov could get here on a special plane or train. Other citizens of the state could not use these vehicles. And if we consider that total leveling reigned in the USSR, then naturally, the inhabitants of this settlement could not help but feel their importance and not experience moral satisfaction and superiority. And the atomic project, entrusted not to someone else, but to them, aroused a sense of pride in specialists, raised self-esteem.

3. Sarov in the nineties

With the onset of the nineties, life in ZATO has changed somewhat. This time period affected the entire country, and even this "small separate state" suffered. Most importantly, funding was limited. But the special status outside the city has been preserved. In 1993, Sarov was visited by Boris Yeltsin, the first President of the Russian Federation. During a conversation with the population, he said that the state of supply and the availability of goods in local stores is much better than in the capital. As for the general mood, this closed settlement had to endure all the hardships of that time - crime, default, there were also salary delays. But since, in fact, he remained "behind the barbed wire", in general, too large losses did not follow.

4. Our time

Sarov in real time is a full-fledged city, comfortable, the population of which is constantly growing. Today over 95,000 people live here. Many have a desire to come here and get an education, work, just live here on a permanent basis.

Since 2010, Sarov's status and funding have increased significantly. The fact is that it was included in the list of closed cities of the state corporation Rosatom. The most interesting thing is that it is in this city, closed for many decades, that the best traditions of the Soviet Union have been preserved to this day.

Perhaps that is why it attracts the attention of new tenants. But it does not suit everyone. It should be understood that foreign trips are not available to city residents.

Many representatives of the younger generation living in depressed regions, for example, in Siberia, the Urals or the Far East, are attracted by this closed settlement with large salaries, decent education in schools, and the opportunity to build a career.

Minibuses departing from Nizhny Novgorod from the bus station regularly go to Sarov. If you have a business trip or close relatives live in the city, then there will be no problems. But for the most part, people travel like pilgrims to holy places. Even so, a small fraction of the cityscape can be seen. There is nothing particularly new in the buildings. Arzamas, located next door, is practically no different in terms of architecture. But the desire to visit Sarov is caused by its status, and not by interest in buildings or streets.