A Soviet laser cannon damaged the American shuttle, and the development of bacteriological weapons led to the creation of a zombie virus. Conspiracy theorists constantly talk about secret objects. What secrets hide the Soviet military bases and what notoriety they are often attributed to - now we will tell.
Terra-3
Priozersk, Kazakhstan.
In conspiracy theories
This is a secret Soviet-era laser facility that was designed to destroy space objects.
Foreign sources also claim that the laser was used to fire on American shuttles. In particular, they say that the notorious "Challenger" in October 1984 (one and a half years before its death) came under his blow. The laser beam was seen by astronauts on board, and the spacecraft's electronics experienced malfunctions.
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In a boring reality
"Terra-3", aka T-3, aka "Object 2505" - is a really secret laser installation, built in Soviet times. As for the rest, everything is far from being as exciting and intriguing as the conspiracy theorists say.
In the sixties, the idea was to use lasers to destroy ballistic missile warheads. To test this idea at the Sary-Shagan test site in Kazakhstan, the "Terra-3" unit was built.
Telescope TG-1 of the LE-1 laser locator, Sary-Shagan training ground (photo: P. V. Zarubin).
It was assumed that as a result of the tests, a whole system of laser batteries would be created to protect the USSR from a nuclear attack. However, by 1977 it became clear that the laser power was insufficient to destroy the warheads. The project was closed.
The Terra-3 was physically unable to shoot at anything aiming (be it a UFO or an American Challenger): the guidance complex for it was never completed. In addition, by the beginning of the eighties, most of the work was curtailed and the installation was actually mothballed.
At the moment, "Terra-3", like most of the objects of the Sary-Shagan landfill, lies in ruins and is almost completely scattered by local residents for non-ferrous metal.
PNIL-52
Revival Island, Aral Sea, Uzbekistan.
In conspiracy theories
PNIL-52 is a laboratory for the development of bacteriological weapons.
And the occasional leakage of hazardous materials led to casualties both among personnel and among residents of nearby settlements.
Opinions differ as to what exactly was developed in the laboratory. But many conspiracy theorists claim: these were new types of microorganisms unknown to science. And some people talk about almost a zombie virus.
In a boring reality
PNIL-52 (Field Research Laboratory No. 52) actually studied bacteriological weapons. The place for her was chosen as safe as possible: a lonely island remote from populated areas. The hot, arid climate of the area quickly killed the bacteria that escaped during the tests.
Experiments on humans in the laboratory were not performed (although they were carried out on animals). Nothing unknown to science has not been investigated.
These were mostly old, bad strains of anthrax. Not a single contamination breakthrough occurred outside the test site - safety was respected at the highest level.
In 1992, the laboratory was closed. At the moment it is completely abandoned. All studied materials were destroyed, and the equipment was removed.
Yamantau
Yamantau, South Ural, Russia (photo: Oleg Chegodaev).
In conspiracy theories
Oh, and what is there just not! The most modest and sober-minded (if the word "sober" can generally be applied to conspiracy theorists) believe that under the Yamantau mountain is the personal bunker of the Russian president. There he will take refuge in the event of the outbreak of the Third World War.
There were also versions that a warehouse of especially important strategic stocks was located there.
The conspiracy theorists do not forget to recall that "yaman tau" in Bashkir means "bad mountain". And that the locals avoid going there. Theories about the appearance of the name, again, are many: from deposits of radioactive ore to an anomalous zone, where space and time are distorted.
In a boring reality
Unfortunately, what is actually located under the Yamantau Mountain is not known for certain. But it is known for sure: at its foot there is a mining and processing complex, from which a large tunnel goes into the mountain. The complex is served by the closed city of Mizhgirya (it is more of an urban-type settlement with a population of only about 16 thousand people).
Actually, it's not at all a fact that Yamantau is a military facility. In any case, the military units located around it are now mostly abandoned. And the only ones who guard the approaches to the mountain are the most ordinary huntsmen (the mountain is located on the territory of the South Ural Reserve).
Most likely, as depressing as it may sound to some, they really just dig ore. Not radioactive, no. Environmentalists, including foreign ones, have repeatedly visited Yamantau, but they did not find an increased radiation background.
The version about the presence of large structures of strategic importance is unlikely, because the infrastructure does not correspond to this. The only two-lane road leads to the mountain. There are no railways, no airfields or helipads either. Getting more than a few dump trucks of ore a day up or out of a mountain is thus extremely difficult.
And yes - the Bashkirs called Yamantau a "bad mountain" because the grass did not grow well on it and there were many bears. Because of this, grazing livestock on its slopes (which the locals were mainly engaged in) was pointless and dangerous.
Alexander Grebnev
