April 20, the air base “Chernigovka” located in Primorye was the place of the first demonstration flights of combat helicopters Ka-52 “Alligator” and Mi-8AMTSh.

The audience could see well-coordinated training flights, preflight briefings, organization of the control tower, and preflight preparations of the helicopters. Photos by Smit_Smitty.

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Tags: Primorye krai

The maximum depth of this abandoned mine shaft located somewhere in Russia reaches 880 meters. The mine is not functioning for several years and is suspended.

All the entrances and ventilation trunks are either concreted or sealed with steel “stoppers.” However, there are people for whom this is not an obstacle. Photos by Vadim Mahorov.

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Tags: Abandoned

On the bank of the Volga River near the town of Tutaev (Yaroslavl oblast) you can see the remains of a very beautiful building, known as Sorokin’s dacha.

It is believed that the house in the Moorish style was bought by Yaroslavl merchant Sergei Nikolayevich Sorokin at the fair in Nizhny Novgorod. The house was built in 1868. Also there was a park with a pond, fountains and pavilions around the dacha. Photos by vj_jjic

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Tags: Abandoned · Yaroslavl oblast

This mosque was officially opened in Saint Petersburg on February 22, 1913, on the second day of celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the reign of the Romanovs. The building of the mosque was constructed in 1909-1920.

The design of the mosque was based on Gur-Emir Mausoleum located in Samarkand. From 1927 to 1930 and from 1940 to 1956, the mosque was closed. In 1956 the mosque was returned to the Muslims. Photos by Yura Osinin.

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Tags: Saint Petersburg city

The next stage of combat training of units of the Marine Corps of Russian Pacific Fleet began in the new academic year. After winter combat training large-scale tactical exercises with firing began at the landing firing ground “Klerk” located near Vladivostok, the capital city of Primorye krai.

The exercises involved 122-mm self-propelled artillery “Gvozdika”, 82-mm battalion mortars, antitank guided missile systems “Fagot” and infantry flame throwers “Shmel”.

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Tags: Primorye krai · Vladivostok city

Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is the largest theater of Novosibirsk and Siberia. The theater building, located on the main square of Novosibirsk is Russia’s largest theater building.

Because of its large size the theater is called “Siberian Coliseum”. The theater building is the pride and symbol of Novosibirsk. Today about 900 people are working there. Photos by Stepanov Slava.

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Tags: Novosibirsk city · Siberia

Picturesque view of Saint Petersburg is determined by architecture: straight streets, large squares, gardens and parks, rivers and numerous canals, embankments, bridges, monuments and decorative statues.

Among the other interesting places of Saint Petersburg are the fountains. Saint Petersburg is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Gulf Stream causes humid sea climate in Saint-Petersburg. Most days in the year are cloudy and gloomy. Photos by Sergei Nagorny.

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Tags: Saint Petersburg city

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan with the population of 1.1 million people. In 2005 the millennium of Kazan was celebrated. In 2013 the city will host the 27th World Summer Universiade, and in 2015 – World Championship of Water Sports.

Today Kazan is the center of Tatar people culture. Kazan Kremlin is among UNESCO world heritage and a 1000 year history of Kazan makes it one of Russian cities most often visited by tourists. Photos by Stepanov Slava.

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Tags: bird's eye views · Kazan city · Tatarstan Republic

“Dunai-3U” is early warning radar station of Soviet missile defense system A-35M located in Moskovskaya oblast. The station was put in service in 1978. NATO’s code for radar station “Dunai-3U” is “Cathouse”.

Today the station operates partly; most of the equipment was dismantled. Once it was one of the most secret military facilities of the Soviet Union. Today the station is practically deserted. Photos by artuniar.

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Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast · Soviet past

Abandoned Research Institute of Corrosion is located somewhere in the Moscow region. The institute was working on studying the effects of different environments and conditions on certain substances.

In the late 1980s due to lack of funding the institute was closed. Now this is the place where you can feel the atmosphere of the Soviet Union.

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Tags: Abandoned · Moskovskaya oblast