Russia is now mass-producing mobile nuclear shelters due to growing fears that Vladimir Putin could escalate the conflict into a nuclear war.
This move comes 1,000 days into the war with Ukraine. On November 19, Putin updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine, suggesting he might resort to nuclear weapons if Ukraine attacks Russian territory with NATO-supplied weapons. This follows an attack on an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region with U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, which has been confirmed by Russia’s defense ministry.
For the first time, Russia has begun serial production of mobile nuclear bunkers. The shelters are designed to protect against light radiation from nuclear explosions and radioactive contamination. One model, the Kub-M, is manufactured in Dzerzhinsk, a city named after Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police.
The Kub-M costs £300,000 and can be transported by road or rail. It can accommodate 54 people, with capacity increased by up to 150 with added blocks. It provides protection against air shockwaves, explosions, debris, toxic substances, and radiation. The shelter can operate autonomously for up to two days with air filtration, water supply, sewage, and heating systems.
The shelters aim to protect against all types of modern weapons, including nuclear ones, though their effectiveness remains uncertain.
In addition to these mobile units, Russia has a network of bunkers for senior officials spread across 11 time zones. However, these mobile shelters are far from Putin’s own secure locations. He has a new nuclear command center near Ufa, believed to be an underground city where he can live for years with family and key officials. This facility was used by former defense minister Sergei Shoigu during the war’s early days. Putin is also believed to have concealed bunkers in his network of palaces.
