Was it fear or foresight that drove its construction? This is the Old Concrete Entrance Bunker. Today we explore the secrets held within its aging walls.
This Old Concrete Entrance Bunker stands as a relic. It is a silent testament to a time of conflict. These bunkers are scattered around St. Petersburg. They stretch north through Karelia. They run from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga.
These weren’t just any bunkers. They formed part of the Stalin Line. They were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Later, they were modernized in the 1950s. These fortifications were a defensive line. They were built against the Finnish Army during World War II. The Finnish Army participated with German forces. They stood against Russia’s northern capital. It was a 900-day blockade.
In the early 1990s, the army abandoned these Old Concrete Entrance Bunkers. Since then, they attracted hikers and history buffs. Mushroom pickers and even children playing soldier explored them. Some were repurposed. They served as foundations for homes. Others stored preserved fruits and vegetables.
However, a hidden danger lurked within some of these Old Concrete Entrance Bunkers. In 2018, a report revealed a jarring truth. Radiation levels inside some bunkers exceeded 1,000 times background levels. The source was fluorescent paint on panels. The army installed these panels to provide light.
The discovery was accidental. Members of a volunteer organization searched for war remains. They visited a bunker to take photographs. One member happened to have a radiation detector. The detector revealed the unpleasant surprise.
Authorities were slow to react initially. Eventually, RosRAO, Russia’s radioactive waste handler, began decontamination. They tracked down the irradiated bunkers. There were around 230 bunkers. It was estimated that at least half needed decontamination.
Alexander Nikitin of Environmental Rights Center Bellona emphasized the need for inspection. The bunkers needed to be measured and rendered harmless. He called it a legacy of war. No one knew about it.
The deactivation process involved removing radioactive portions. They were put into safe storage. Once the Stalin Line bunkers are made safe, others located on the islands of Lake Ladoga need to be checked.
These bunkers remind us of past conflicts. The Old Concrete Entrance Bunker serves as a reminder. It highlights the hidden dangers of war’s legacy. It also shows the importance of vigilance and remediation.