CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROUND SCAR OR TRACE IN THE MOSCOW AREA, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP02T06408R000800010065-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: September 1, 1964
• Content Type: REPORT

September 1964
TOP SECRET 425X1
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROUND SCAR
OR TRACE IN THE MOSCOW AREA, USSR
CIA
DIA
Copy
10'7
18 Pages
Declass Review by
NIMAIDOD
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
F4Iiva! AZCJ 7
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/~ q~r/ Excluded from automatic
.~mwalueb~ ~1e, , l~ae TOP SECRET downgrading and deckssification
1D6QS
NSA review(s) completed.
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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROUND SCAR
OR TRACE IN THE MOSCOW AREA, USSR
NPIC/R-853/64
September 1964
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
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INTRODUCTION
On excellent quality hotography o
a continuous ground scar or trace was noted around Moscow.
its path is generally oval, varying in distance from 17 to 55
nautical miles (nm) from the center of Moscow, and branches
from the circumferential trace link various known military
installations, several cities, and a number of unidentified
facilities.
The trace is not new. Portions of it were already pres-
ent on photographic coverage of the Moscow area
in
and numerous additions have
been made since that time. A careful review of
photography
establishes the chronology of construction, and the
large mosaic shown in Figure 21 is color keyed to present
the detailed chronology, indicating the mission on which
various segments of the trace were first identifiable.
In there were 14 principal branches forking
from the circumferential ground scar. Locations of these
branches and the spurs from some of them are identified
by an arbitrary numbering system adopted for this report.
From the north, SA-1 SAM Site E36-1 is designated as being
on Branch Line 1; other branch lines are numbered clockwise
and any spurs retain the branch numeral and add A, B, and
so on.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TERMINAL POINTS
This report provides photographs from
and brief descriptions of the terminal points of branches
and spurs from the circumferential ground scar as
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 BRANCH LINE
From a point on the circumferential trace at 56-17-15N
37-35-ODE, Branch Line I extends northward toward SA-1
SAM Site E36-1, 1/ bypassing the site support area and
paralleling the eastern side of the launch area (Figure 1).
It continues northward to a point approximately 4,500 feet
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east of the northeast corner of the launch area, where it
apparently terminates. No terminal facilities were ob-
served i
SPUR IA. Just east of Dmitrov, a spur trace can be seen
extending westward for approximately 6,200 feet to a point
about 530 feet short of a group of large buildings which are
NPIC/R-853/64
under construction (Figure 2). As of this spur
did not make contact with Branch Line I but stopped approxi-
mately 1,300 feet west of it in a circular cleared area con-
taining a building that measured approximately 3Oby 10 feet
(item 1). Inasmuch as Branch Line I itself was still under
construction, it is probable that this spur was also incomplete
and may link up later at 56-19-5 IN 37-35-ODE.
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FIGURE 2. SPUR IA, EAST OF DMITROV.
 BRANCH LINE II
This trace branches from the main circumferential trace
at 56-09-45N 38-00-40E, passes just south and east of
Zagorsk, south of Aleksandrov, and has been traced as far as
the Kolchugino area, approximately 67 nm from Moscow.
SPUR IIA. This trace extends westward from Branch
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Line II at 56-14-.40N 38-07-50E to a point near the town of
Mitino. The terminus is located at 56-15-DON 38-01-15E,
in a circular cleared area, apparently slightly mounded,
which contains a possible structure (Figure 3, item 1).
SPUR IIAI. Spur IIAl branches from Spur IIA at 56-15-
05N 38-06-30E and extends north to the southwest edge of the
city of Zagorsk, the trace appeared to end in
a generally circular clearing containing a rectangular build-
ing that measures approximately 30 by 10 feet (Figure 4,
item 1). The clearing is located about 1,850 feet south of a
railroad, at 56-16-50N 38-07-ODE. Additional scarring and
track activity to the north of the terminus may indicate future
extension in that direction.
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FIGURE 3. TERMINUS OF SPUR IIA, NEAR MIT/NO.
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FIGURE 4. TERMINUS OF SPUR I/A 1, ZAGORSK.
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 SPUR JIB. This spur leaves the main branch, II, south
of Aleksandrov at 56-21-00N 38-44- IOE, and heads generally
south approximately 2.5 nm to apointon the east bank of the
Sherna River in the town of Karabanovo. The lack of any
terminal facility at this point in may indicate that
the trace will be extended across the river later (Figure 5).
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BRANCH LINE III
This portion of the trace takes off from the circumfer-
ential scar at 56-04-30N 38-05-OOE and extends north-
east toward SAM Site E05-1. 3,4/ The trace approaches
the site support area from the west and, after a short jog
where it passes a possible structure, (Figure 6, item 1)
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disappears in the light-toned ground scarring adjacent to
the support area.
SPUR IIIA. Just southwest of the village of Fryanovo,
this spur forks from Branch III at 56-07-15N 38-24-40E.
The trace extends southeast and has a short spur, IIIA1,
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FIGURE 5. SPUR JIB, KARABANOVO.
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 branching northeast to the Kirzhach Area Suspect Satel-
lite Tracking Facility, 5/ where it is lost in the light-
toned earth scarring of the support area (Figure 7). The
main portion of Spur IIIA continues past the facility and
disappears at a point along a road at 56-03-05N 38-32-40E,
but no terminal facility is apparent.
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BRANCH LINE IV
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Leaving the main portion of the circumferential trace
at 55-56-25N 38-13-20E, Branch Line IV goes northeast
for approximately 6 nm. It passes south and east of Mos-
cow SAM Storage Site No 1 to a generally circular clear-
ing which contains a building that measures approximately
20 by 10 feet (Figure 8, item 1). About 150 feet farther
northeast, another trace can be seen extending north where
it becomes lost in the light-toned earth around the edge of
an unidentified installation. Although the two traces were
not joined in it is probable that a connection
subsequently will be made.
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FIGURE 7. KIRZHACH AREA SUSPECT SATELLITE TRACKING FACILIT
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FIGURE 8. BRANCH LINE IV AND INSTALLATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
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 BRANCH LINE V
Extending nearly due east from the circumferential trace
at 55-52-20N 38-15-20E, Branch Line V travels slightly less
than 6 nm to a field on the northwest edge of Noginsk. The
trace appears to end in a clearing containing a possible
structure at 55-53-30N 38-25-20E (Figure 9, item 1). Im-
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mediately east of the terminal point, a building that measures
approximately 50 by 10 feet can be seen (item 2), but it does
not appear to be physically connected to the trace.
BRANCH LINE VI
Branch Line V! begins at 55-51-30N 38-15-358 on the
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circumferential trace and heads generally west, passing
north of Moscow/Monino Airfield and south of Moscow/
Shchelkovo Airfield. It apparently terminates in a light
toned field at 55-51-35N 37-59-55E. Other ground scars can
be seen leaving this general area, but positive identification
of any connection with Branch Line VI is not possible.
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FIGURE 9, BRANCH LINE V NEAR NOGINSK.
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 BRANCH LINE VII
This branch leaves the main circumferential trace at
55-44-1ON 38-25-OOEand trends northeast for approximately
2.5 urn where it becomes indistinct (Figure 10) at the south-
west edge of the Elektrostal Industrial Complex. 6/
BRANCH LINE VIII
Leaving the circumferential trace at 55-43-25N 38-25-
35E, Branch Line VIII extends west-southwest for slightly
more than 5.5 nm. Ditching has progressed to a point at
55-41-50N 38-18-40E, but clearing of vegetation continues
for approximately another 8,000 feet to a wooded area.
The trace ends there among numerous other scars that
have been cut through the woods in short segments.
BRANCH LINE IX
Branch No IX begins just south of Ponor River at 55-
38-OON 38-49-30E and continues northeastly for approxi-
mately 5 nm to the outskirts of Likino-Dulevo, where it
becomes less and less distinct and no longer identifiable
at approximately 55-41-OON 38-56-20E. it
was apparently incomplete.
BRANCH LINE X
This is the shortest of all the branches, being only
approximately 2,800 feet long. Beginning at the main trace
at 55-34-30N 38-51-30E, it runs east-northeast to a point
near the west bank of the Nerskaya River, on the western
edge of Kurovskoye.
BRANCH LINE XI
Branch Line XI can be traced northwest from the main
scar at approximately 55-05-OON 38-27-30E for a distance
of approximately 5 nm. It approaches SAM Site E15-1
from the southeast, 1,7/ passes east of the launch area to a
point approximately half way along its length and 1,300 feet
south of the site support area. Additional scarring and track
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activity extend toward the site support area, possibly indicat- the trace did not terminate at any identifiable facility
ing further construction of the trace.) however, (Figure 11).
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 BRANCH LINE XII
The longest of the branches is Line XII which begins
on the east edge of the city of Serpukhov, at 54-55-40N
37-30-55E and has been tracked to the west far beyond
the area pertinent to this report. Three main spurs fork
from the line as shown in Figure 21.
ApprdJed For RdAa~ 0004M 2l~
)001 0065-1
SPUR XIIA. Beginning near the west bank of the Protva
River at 55-09-OON 36-32-30E, this spur trends generally
northeast to a point approximately 4,000 feet southwest of
the center of the Borovsk Area
It terminates at a building that measures approximately 30
by 15 feet, at 55-11-1ON 36-36-20E (Figure 12, item 1).
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SPUR XIIB. Spur trace XIIB leaves the branch line at
a point on the east side of the Protva River, northwest of
Borovsk, at 55-15-15N 36-22-50E and proceeds approxi-
mately 4.5 nm, passing just west of SAM Site E24-1. 1,2,9/
A short spur (XIIB2) enters the site and extends approxi-
mately 1,850 feet east to a building which measures ap-
proximately 30 by 10 feet (Figure 13, item 1). Two possi-
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FIGURE 12. BOROVSK AREA
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FIGURE 13. SAM SITE E24-1.
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NPIC/R-853/64
ble trails leave this building, one leading toward the sup- mately 30 by 15 feet (Figure 14, item 1) at 55-28-40N 36-37-
port area and the other toward the launch area. 20E. From this clearing, the trace continues north approxi-
From SAM Site E24-1, spur trace XIIB extends approxi- mately 6,800 feet and becomes lost in the light-toned earth
mately 9 nm to a point northeast of the SAM site where it en- scarring at Support Area A of the Suspect AMM Phased-
ters a clearing containing a building that measures approxi- Array Radar Installation. 10,11/
SPUR XIIBI. At the point where Spur XIIB makes its
first turn north (55-17-50N 36-29-15E), a spur branches
generally east for approximately 2 nm and enters a pre-
viously reported
installation at 55-18-30N
36-33-30E (Figure 15).4/
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FIGURE 14. SUPPORT AREA A, SUSPECT RADAR INSTALLATION.
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FIGURE 15. SPUR XIIB1,
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 SPUR XIIC. Approximately 16 nm northwest of Spur
XIIB, at 55-28-15N 36-06-20E, Spur XIIC begins just east
of Mozhaysk Ammunition Depot and proceeds to a point
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north edge of the installation (Figure 16).
BRANCH LINE XIII
Branch Line XIII leaves
The terminus of the spur is at the 00-lON 37-05-40E and can b
the circumferential scar at 56-
e traced northwest for approxi-
mately 46 nm to the southern edge of the Volga River. There
it becomes lost in the earth scarring at the east edge of a
large powerplant, under construction orth of
the city of Karachary at approximately 56-44-30N 36-46-
20E (Figure 17).
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FIGURE 17. POWERPLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION, KARACHARY.
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/ NPIC/R-853/64
SPUR XIIIA. This trace departs from Branch XIII at (Figure 18). Additional track activity and scarring to the
a point approximately one nm north of the Istra River, at west and northwest may indicate the future direction of ex-
56-18-.30N 36-54-20E, and passes south and west of SAM tensions, but in
Site E33-1 support area, terminating approximately 1,000
feet west of there and 2,600 feet north of the Istra River
SPUR XIIIB. Just short of the northern terminus of
Branch XIII, near Karachary, a short spur heads southwest
the trace appeared to terminate for approximately 1.5 nm and ends in an area of earth scar-
in an open field with no direct connection to any identifiable ring on the east edge of Karachary at 56-41-40N 36-47-30E
facility. 1,2,9/ (Figure 19).
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FIGURE 18. SAM SITE E33-1.
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FIGURE 19. SPUR XIIIB, KARACHARY.
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FIGURE 20. BRANCH LINE X/V.
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BRANCH LINE XIV
NPIC/R-853/64
This branch line leaves the circumferential trace at 56-
03-50N 36-08-40E and extends southeast approximately 15
nm to a point near the former Moscow/Khimki Airfield.
The terminal point is located in an open field approximately
3,200 feet west of an area of construction north of the former
airfield and it is not associated with any visible facility
(Figure 20).
CONCLUSIONS
The circumferential trace or ground scar around Mos-
cow was first identified on relatively small-scale,
photography of Subsequent review of earlier
photography helped establish construction chron-
ology, but no firm identification of the purpose of the trace
can be made from available photography.
Several sources have reported evidence of buried nat-
ural gas pipelines that girdle Moscow andbranchto many of
the areas where the trace is apparent, 13,14/ while other
sources have reported buried cable lines at various places
which roughly correspond to portions of the trace. 15-18/
Inasmuch as buried pipeline and buried cable bothwould ap-
pear only as a scar or trace, it is not possible to identify
the purpose of the scar from photography alone.
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FIGURE 2I. CONSTRUCTION CHRONOLOGY OF THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL TRACE.
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RE FERENC ES
NPIC/R- 85 3/64
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MAPS OR CHARTS
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0154-22HL, 2d ed, Mar 63, scale 1:200, 000 (SECRET)
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0154-23HL, 2d ed, Apr 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0167-4HL, 2d ed, Mar 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0167-5HL, 2d ed, Apr 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0167-IOHL, 2d ed, Feb 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC. R-836/64, Unidentified Activity at SA-1 SAM Sites, Moscow USSR, Sep 64 (TOP SECRET
2. NPIC. R-81/64, SA-1 SAM Sites, Moscow, USSR, Northwest Quadrant, Feb 64 (TOP SECRE
3. NPIC. 11-64/64, SA-1 SAM Sites, Moscow, USSR, Northeast, Quadrant, Jan 64 (TOP SECRET
4. NPIC. R-219/64, Possible Antimissile Missile Associated Facilities, Moscow Area, USSR,
pr 64 (TOP SECRET
D
5. NPIC. 11-786/64, Oak - Part II,
(TOP SECRE
6. NPIC. R-345/64,ElektrostalComyles, USSR, Mar 64 (TOP SECRET
D
7. NPIC. R-280/64, Possible AMM-Associated Facility, SAM Site E15-1, Moscow, USSR, May 64 (TOP SECRET
D
8. NPIC. 11-90/64, SA-1 SAM Sites, Moscow, USSR, Southeast, Quadrant, Feb 64 (TOP SECRET
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 ApP 1 V f r R5~!92I
REFERENCES (Continued)
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9. NPIC. R-706/64, Possible AMM-Associated Electronic Facilities, Moscow SAM Sites E24,-1 and E33-1, USSR,
D
Aug 64 (TOP SECRET
D
10. NPIC. R-621/64, Suspect AMM Phased-Array Radar, Naro-Fominsk (Moscow Area), USSR, Jul 64 (TOP SECRET I
D
11. NPIC. R-438/64, Changes at Suspect AMM Phased-Array Radar, Naro-Fominsk, USSR,
(TOP SECRET
Jun 64
13. CIA. RR ER 63-3, Atlas of Transmission Pipelines for Natural Gas, Mar 63 (UNCLASSIFIED)
14. "New Big-Inch Gas Line Will Ring Moscow," The Oil and Gas Journal, 26 Nov 62, p 58 (UNCLASSIFIED)
15. Army. Moscow, 2901011063, Road Trip Moscow-Novgorod-Leningrad-Finnish Border and Return, 14 Jun 63 (SECRET)
18. Army. Moscow, 2901014063, Trip Report, Moscow-Smolensk, 26 Jul 63 (SECRET)
REQUIREMENTS
CIA. C-RR4-81,656
NPIC PROJECT
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