“Biggest village in Russia” does not even begin to describe Vatutinki. It is quite unique. We are standing in Vatutinki. This village boasts a population of about 9500 residents.
Vatutinki is not your typical Russian village. Forget the image of small houses dotting the landscape. Here in Vatutinki, you won’t find many of them. Vatutinki is located 16 km southwest of Moscow. This detail sets Vatutinki apart.
But there is more to Vatutinki than meets the eye. It is home to a GRU base. This base houses the Space Intelligence Directorate. The directorate manages Russia’s space reconnaissance program. It coordinates efforts with the Fleet Intelligence Direction. This collaboration happens within the Fifth Directorate.
Until July 1 2012 Vatutinki was a part of Leninsky District of Moscow Oblast. Then it was merged into Moscow.
Did you know that Vatutinki has appeared on the silver screen? Some scenes from the famous Russian movie Night Watch were filmed here. Houses 41 and 42 served as filming locations. The name Vatutinki was even mentioned in the movie’s dialogue.
In 2010, the population of Vatutinki was 11081. This was up from 9581 in 2002. Vatutinki has grown over the years.
The coordinates of Vatutinki are 55°30’5″N 37°20’3″E. It sits on the Desna River. It is part of the Novomoskovsky Administrative Okrug. This okrug is part of the federal city of Moscow.
Nearby cities include Kommunarka 12 km away and Kokoshkino 17 km away. Troitsk is about 3.7 km from Vatutinki.
As you explore Vatutinki, remember its unique blend of ordinary village life and extraordinary intelligence operations. It is a place where film magic meets real-world espionage. Vatutinki is truly a one-of-a-kind location.