This former mining town may seem deserted at first sight. But it is a rather big workers’ settlement, not much alive, though. Well, the mines were closed, but people weren’t.
The workers’ village, called “Yubileiny” (meaning “Anniversary”) was built by a major coal mine.
“Mine”
In the 90s the mine complex became unprofitable and the closure process began.
In 1998 all the mines were closed and some people got flats in the neighboring towns, but those who didn’t already work in the mines were left with nothing.
Of course, nobody wanted to stay here: everyone, who had a possibility, went to live with their family or friends to any other place.
It was impossible to sell a flat here as there was no sense in bying it, one could just leave it.
Those who had their own houses were more lucky as they could buy cattle and live having a vegetable garden.
Electricity and gas were cut off and concrete boxes became totally useless.
It is very strange the tank still stays on the pedestal as the looters have taken everything they could from abandoned flats, including wooden doors and stair railing.
At present there are only five inhabited blocks of flats.
It resembles more wartime Chechnya than modern Russia.
It looks very shabby. I’m quite impressed how it looks on the inside.
How many abandoned towns/cities are there? I know places in the U.S. that are similar (Detroit for example)
Yeah, Detroit has streets full of buildings like this, and now the “leaders” of Detroit think they can overcome decades of gluttony and incompetence by running a Super Bowl ad featuring a new car and a white-trash hip-hop singer. All that ad did for me was make me even more glad I don’t live in Detroit. I’d honestly rather live in Russia.
Detroit was destine to failure. The unions killed it. They just kept taking more and more and more, until the car companies just couldn’t give out any more, and basically collapsed. Then the town dies with it because that was about the only income source.
Now we have a super liberal president, paying back favors to his friends (the unions) and forcing them to build cars nobody wants.
But at least they’re talking about tearing those old buildings (houses) down, and turning it back into farmland.
Well, actually GM paid back their loan to the US government with interest and ahead of schedule turning a nice profit for the taxpayers. More tax payer profits will follow as the US government sells its preferred shares. GM’s retail sales last month were up over 60%, they are the world’s 2nd largest car company and may soon be the largest. Details here: http://www.gm.com/investors/sales-production
That’s really sad to see what was once beautiful building neglected and falling apart. I can only hope someone saves it before it gets much worse. Inside the school looks nice, that’s good for the children.
I don’t understand why the people in the flats/apts cannot use other abandon buildings as stables for farm animals and plant gardens on the land around them like the people with houses do.
I myself would have a garden, chickens and goats if Soviet Virginika of Amerika didn’t have so many effing codes and laws saying I cannot do that while I live in an apartment in the city.
But I think maybe Russia doesn’t have such nonsense and people are free to do more to help themselves. I don’t know I could be wrong.
Soviet Virginika?!
You could grow some chia pets.
Yubileiny is the middle of Russia. Kind of like Hays, Kansas, huh?
what they do to live? there are no jobs, where they get food, honestly sometimes i wish to live in a place like this but i dont have any idea on how to survive!
More fotos from this town
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Yubileiny-admin.jpg
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Yubileiny-mall.jpg
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Yubileiny-church.jpg
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Church_of_the_New_Martyrs_and_Confessors_of_Russia_%28Yubileyny%29_03.jpg
Awesome post, thank you! I feel sorry for the people though.