2024-04-12 22:32:26
At one time, the nuclear missile base in Zeltinios in Alūksne district was one of the most secret objects not only in Latvia, but also in the entire territory of the former USSR. Unlike other places of this type, the Zeltiņi complex as a single object has been well preserved to this day. Last year, the municipality of Alūksne region implemented The New European Bauhaus supported project Positioning of military heritage at the Soviet Army missile base in Zeltiniųthe purpose of which is to evaluate the most important directions and advantages for the development of the territory.
High fences, armed guards
The story of Karabáze began in 1958, when construction crews arrived in the forests of the Alūksne side, near the village of Zeltiņi, and cut down trees in an area of 300 hectares. To access the secret facility, a new asphalt road was built for the army. Those private houses that were located in this area or closer to 14 hectares were demolished, but the owners were compensated and given a place to live elsewhere.
In 1961, the 2nd Division of the 30th Alūksne Rocket Regiment of the Strategic Missile Forces of the USSR was deployed in Zeltinių with four surface-to-surface missile launchers. The base was armed with medium-range ballistic missiles R-12 or SS-4 Sandal in the NATO classification.
At different times, an average of around 300 military personnel served at the base, of which approximately half were officers and missile service personnel, and the rest were conscripts. A small number of technical workers also worked here – they were civilians who received permission to work after thorough inspections by the State Security Service. Everyone signed a non-disclosure agreement, says guide Gunita Paleja, stopping at the former base pass point where everyone had to present documents to enter the territory.
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2024-04-12 22:32:26