Zheleznogorsk

Zheleznogorsk is a closed town in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, with a developed nuclear industry. Population: 84,795 (2010).

It was previously known as Krasnoyarsk-26.

History

The town was formerly known as Krasnoyarsk-26 (Красноя́рск-26).

It was established in 1950 for the production of weapons-grade plutonium. The history of the town and the associated defense complex are intertwined. In 1959, the Government created the Eastern office of OKB-1 (later known as NPO PM) under the supervision of M.F. Reshetnev. Defense plants included nuclear facilities built within caverns excavated in the granite mountain on the northern edge of the city as well as space research enterprises.

It was a secret town in the Soviet Union until President Boris Yeltsin decreed in 1992 that such places could use their historical names. Before then, the town had not appeared on any official maps. As is the tradition with Soviet towns containing secret facilities, "Krasnoyarsk-26" is actually a P.O. Box number and implies that the place is located some distance from the city of Krasnoyarsk. The town was also known as Soctown, Iron City, the Nine, and Atom Town.