Russia to Revive Soviet Era Secret Submarine Base

Russia is planning to reopen and repurpose an iconic Soviet-era submarine base on the coast of the Black Sea for military use, the Jamestown Foundation reported on Monday.

Balaklava Bay: The underground complex in Balaklava Bay in Russia-occupied Crimea was built in 1957 and housed and repaired submarines during the Cold War era. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin personally reviewed and signed off on the base.

• The facility was designed to survive a direct nuclear explosion of 100 kilotons.
• The base includes a deepwater canal, nuclear weapons storage facilities, a dry dock and command posts.
• It was decommissioned by the Ukrainian government and made into a museum in 2003.

As the base was built to house now outdated submarines, the Russian military will have to carry out extensive renovations to make it compatible with modern submarines.

Soviet revival: In his 2005 state of the nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the Soviet empire “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” Putin has worked for decades to revive the power and expanse of the Soviet empire, and he will continue to do so until Russia is a superior powerhouse on the world scene.

Learn more: Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Russia’s Return to Superpower Status.”