“Did they really use nuclear-tipped missiles to defend Moscow?” Deep in the heart of Moscow, on Dzerzhinsky Street, stands the seemingly ordinary-looking hill. This hill, known as “Topol”, marks the location of the Создателям Ракетного Щита России, a memorial to the creators of Russia’s missile shield. Opened on December 17, 2004, this memorial commemorates the engineers and scientists who developed the A-35 anti-ballistic missile system. The A-35, nicknamed “Sovyoz”, was a product of the Cold War, a time of intense fear and rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. The thought of a surprise nuclear attack on Moscow, paralyzing the Soviet leadership, spurred the creation of this system. The A-35 was designed to intercept incoming nuclear warheads high above the city using its own nuclear warheads. It was a desperate measure, a “hand grenade against a bullet” as they called it. Imagine the tension, the sheer scale of the threat that made such a drastic defense necessary! However, the ever-escalating nuclear arms race soon rendered the A-35 obsolete. By the time it was completed, it faced thousands of US missiles, far more than it could handle. The A-35 was eventually upgraded to the A-135 system, but even its future remains uncertain. The Создателям Ракетного Щита России memorial stands as a stark reminder of the Cold War, a testament to the ingenuity and fear that defined that era. It prompts us to reflect on the devastating power of nuclear weapons and the delicate balance of power that keeps them in check. Next time you see an ordinary-looking hill, remember it might be concealing a remarkable story.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to