YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, USSR (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000301360001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 10, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9
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REMARKS:
PAPER PRINT
FROM: NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NO.
DATE
NPIC/IEG
1/84
~SECRE~
(Security Classification)
NOFORN
CONTROL NO. - z-17483-84
COPY 29 OF 29
w
Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources or Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
(Security Classification)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9
40
Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources or Methods Involved
(WNINTEL) or (D)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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Controlled by Originator
REL. . . This Information has been Authorized for
Release to ...
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9 I
n YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN
UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, USSR
-U-
GRAPHIC _5
HOUSING/SUPPORT AREA
NORTH
GRAPHIC 7
Z-17483 NPIC/IEG (1/84) 1 OF 7 ? ~d
RAIL LINES
? ? ? PROJECTED
UNDER CONSTRUCT/ON
COMPLETED
HARD-SURFACED ROAD
=CONSTRUCTION AREA
- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9
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(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
SIGNIFICANCE: AN EXTENSIVE UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ON THE SOUTHEASTERN SLOPE OF THE HIGHEST
PEAK IN THE SOUTHERN URAL MOUNTAINS. (SWN)
Page 1 of 2 Attachment to Z-17483/84
Copy NPIC/IEG (1/84)
10 JANUARY 1984
YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, USSR (SWN)
REMARKS: YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS
ANSIVE UNDERTAKING CONSISTING OF AN OPERATIONS AREA, TWO
HOUSING/SUPPORT AREAS, AND A LARGE MATERIALS RECEIVING AREA.
IT IS ON THE SOUTHEAST SLOPE OF YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN IN THE
SOUTHERN URAL MOUNTAINS, APPROXIMATELY 650 NM EAST OF MOSCOW
AND 20 NM NORTHEAST OF BELORETSK (GRAPHIC 1). YAMANTAU
MOUNTAIN IS THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE SOUTHERN URALS, WITH AN
ELEVATION OF 1,630 METERS, AND IS COMPOSED OF HARD CRYSTALINE
ROCK. THE FUNCTION OF THE PROJECT, WHICH DOES NOT RESEMBLE A
MINING OPERATION, HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. (SWN)
THE PROJECT WAS IN A VERY EARLY STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION IN
MARCH 1978. ON SUBSEQUENT COVERAGE IN MAY 1979 AND JULY 1980
CLOUD COVER PRECLUDED THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE NUMBER OF SITES
AND THEIR INTERCONNECTION. IMAGERY REVEALED 25X1
THAT THE PROJECT EXTENDS FOR ALMOST 20 NM OVER RUGGED TERRAIN
AND IS INTERCONNECTED BY A NEW ROAD SYSTEM WHICH IS BEING
PAVED. A NEW RAIL LINE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED FROM THE MATERIALS
RECEIVING AREA TOWARDS THE NORTH SUPPORT AREA. THIS LINE WILL
BE APPROXIMATELY 30 NM LONG WHEN COMPLETED AND WILL REQUIRE AT
LEAST SIX BRIDGES. BOTH THE NEW ROAD AND RAIL LINES JOIN
RECENTLY UPGRADED EXISTING ROADS AND RAILS THAT CONNECT THE
MATERIALS RECEIVING AREA WITH THE TOWN OF BELORETSK, 30 NM TO
THE SOUTHEAST. IN ADDITION, A RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED HIGH
VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE PROVIDES THE PROJECT WITH ELECTRICAL
POWER. (SWN)
THE YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS AREA IS APPROXIMATELY 20 NM
NORTHWEST OF BELORETSK AT 54-15-30N 058-04-10E (GRAPHIC 2).
THE AREA CONSISTS OF SEVEN SEPARATE AREAS ON THE SIDE OF
YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN. INCLUDED ARE AT LEAST ONE PROBABLE VERTICAL
SHAFT BUILDING (GRAPHIC 3), ONE PROBABLE HORIZONTAL TUNNEL
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered
valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
SECRET
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301360001-9 T
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84T00171 R000301360001-9
JLb1\L I
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 2 of 2
Copy NPIC/IEG (1/84)
ADIT (GRAPHIC 4), A LARGE EXPLOSIVES STORAGE AREA, AND AN
:ELECTRICAL POWER SUBSTATION. THE PROBABLE VERTICAL SHAFT
BUILDING IS SITUATED AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1,400
METERS AND THE PROBABLE HORIZONTAL ADIT BUILDING IS AT
APPROXIMATELY 1,100 METERS. THE TWO BUILDINGS ARE ALIGNED ON
,THE SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN. NO MULTIPLE SECURITY FENCES ARE
EVIDENT. (SWN)
THE YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN HOUSING/SUPPORT AREA NORTH IS
APPROXIMATELY 5 NM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE OPERATIONS AREA AT
54-14-10N 057-56-30E (GRAPHIC 5). THE AREA CONSISTS OF A MAIN
HOUSING AREA, THREE OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, AND CLEARINGS
FOR AT LEAST THREE MORE.AREAS OF CONSTRUCTION. THE MAIN
HOUSING AREA CONSISTS OF NUMEROUS LARGE
APARTMENT/ADMINISTRATION-TYPE BUILDINGS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
CONSTRUCTION, NUMEROUS OTHER MULTISTORY STRUCTURES AND SMALLER
SUPPORT STRUCTURES. THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO
THE VILLAGE OF KUZYELGA. (SWN)
THE YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN HOUSING/SUPPORT AREA SOUTH IS
APPROXIMATELY 15 NM SOUTHEAST OF THE OPERATIONS AREA AT
54-03-25N 057-51-30E (GRAPHIC 6). THE FACILITY CONSISTS OF A
MAIN HOUSING/ADMINISTRATION AREA, A RAIL SIDING, A MOTOR POOL,
A POL STORAGE AREA, AND SEVERAL SURROUNDING CONSTRUCTION
SUPPORT AREAS. THE MAIN HOUSING/ADMINISTRATION AREA CONTAINS
NUMEROUS APARTMENT/ADMINISTRATION,TYPE BUILDINGS IN VARIOUS
STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION, NUMEROUS SMALLER BUILDINGS, ONE
PROBABLE HOSPITAL, AND ONE PROBABLE SCHOOL. (SWN)
THE YAMANTAU MOUNTAIN MATERIALS RECEIVING AREA IS APPROXIMATELY
18 NM SOUTHEAST OF THE OPERATIONS AREA AT 54-01-15N 057-49-29E
(GRAPHIC 7). THE FACILITY CONSISTS OF A NEW LARGE
CANDELABRA-TYPE RAIL OFF-LOADING AREA, A PREVIOUSLY EXISTING
RAIL SIDING, A NEW RAIL SPUR WITH AN ADJACENT PAVED MATERIALS
APRON, AND A SUPPORT AREA. THE NEW RAIL OFF-LOADING AREA
CONSISTS OF AT LEAST FIVE RAIL SPURS, TWO MATERIALS STORAGE
AREAS, AND A POL STORAGE AREA. (SWN)
COORDINATES 54-14-OON 058-00-OOE (S)
COORDINATES 54-15-30N 058-04-10E (S)
COORDINATES 54-14-10N 057-56-30E (S)
COORDINATES 54-03-25N 057-51-30E (S)
COORDINATES 54-01-15N 057-49-20E (S)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered
valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
SECRET
25X1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/06: CIA-RDP84T00171 R000301360001-9