Historical memorial at Russky Island is scrapped

18.01.2011 Having returned from another expedition to Russky Island, Vladivostok diggers beat an alarm – unknown "leasers" simulate establishment of a museum on the place of the federally-protected memorial, which is unique powder magazine of Vladivostok Fort. However, under the guise of a museum, the memorial is being impudently and ruthlessly sawed for scrap, told history lovers to VL.ru.

In Soviet era all buildings at Russky Island were used for intended purposes by Pacific Fleet Mine/Torpedo Dept. Ammunition was stored, sorted, and distributed there. But since 2007 all warlike equipment has been withdrawn from the island; in Oct 2010 the military unit was completely disbanded and mothballed.

How looked the presently abandoned buildings in their best times? Powder magazine designed in 1910 is a masterpiece of military engineering. Several unique groups of tunnel magazines were built in proximity to defense line and perfectly fit in terrain. Thirteenth powder magazine was situated at Russky Island, on the Cape Ekipazhny. It was built in 1912-1915 under auspices of military engineer Voronov.

That is the only powder magazine designed in 1910 and built at Vladivostok Fort; 5 tunnel storages were made there – two for charges, two for shells, and one for fuses.

Vladivostok Fort is a federally-protected memorial located at the island where APEC summit will be held next year. As a matter of fact, the military had to leave powder magazines for safety purposes of the summit and university being currently built there. But obviously, nobody either took care of the memorial site or protected it from various wreckers and scrap collectors.

Recently carrying out subsequent expedition at Russky Island and trying to get into the powder magazines, Vladivostok diggers faced unexpected and unpleasant problem. The group of unknown "leasers" naturalized in the former checkpoint. The expedition was met by words: "Get plumb out of here! Why are you hanging about, don't you see we make a museum here!"

Unshaven thugs with a dog looked like anybody but museum staff, so diggers decided to get in the object despite the prohibitions. Researches say that current state of the magazine comparing to the one-year-ago appearance is indicative of only one thing – metal parts of the magazine are being actively sawing off. Metal shelves, original pre-revolutionary doors, transfer cars, and armored ventilating dampers have been disappeared from tunnel storages. It should be noted that lack of ventilation disrupts microclimate of magazines and they are literally devoted to destruction - dampness and mold erode even "tsar" concrete. Thus and so, activities of scrap collectors have brought the memorial site of federal significance to the threshold of physical destruction.

So who are the guards? Searching for the answer, VL.ru addressed to federal agency for management and use of historical and cultural monuments. Director of the Far East branch Tatiana Varlamova told that the notorious magazine has not been handed over to the regional administration from Pacific Fleet, so not a cent of budgetary funds can be assigned for security guards. The letter with request to speed up the process was addressed to Pacific Fleet command as early as a half-year ago, but there's no answer so far. The only thing saving the situation is voluntary security arranged by Ussuriysk Cossack Troops, said Mrs. Varlamova.

Representative of Ussuriysk Cossack Troops Dmitry Sukhomlinov confirmed: "Yep, the guard is ours. We have been securing the object on a voluntary basis for half a year. We tried to tie a contract with Pacific Fleet, but failed. That is why the object is even non-electrified. The fleet command by all means postpones signing an agreement, allegedly because the object is about to be handed over to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs". According to Sukhomlinov, the reason for security was savage robbery of the abandoned property. Cossacks found hatches, doors, pieces of metal shelves sawed off from tunnel galleries. All those things were at a scrap collector's yard. About 200 tons of metal were sawed off and taken away after the military left the magazine. Attempts of pillaging continue – recently cossacks detained a man with cutting torch.

Because an appropriate agreement has not been signed, the guards have to work without electricity and domestic coal. Nonetheless, the security goes on.