Kubinka Tank Museum - Foreign Visitor Restrictions

Foreign Visitor Restrictions

The Kubinka Tank Museum is located on a historically "secret" Russian Army armour testing reservation, staffed entirely by Russian military personnel, and access is strictly controlled. From August to October 2007 the Museum was closed to foreign visitors by order of the military to implement new anti-espionage procedures, likely in response to cooling Russia – United States relations following the March 2007 announcement of the US's European ballistic missile defence program. The new restrictions require that all non-Russians visit only with pre-approved Russian tour groups during certain days and hours, submit a security application 3-4 weeks in advance, pay a special fee for a Federal Security Bureau officer to escort them the entire time they are in the museum, and agree to spend no more than a few minutes in each display area. "Professional" cameras (non-disposable with glass lenses larger than 10mm) or cameras which are easily concealed are also banned.

Although none of the vehicles in the museum are still used or fielded by the Russian military, many of the exhibits (particularly of one-of-a-kind experimental vehicles) are still considered secret by the museum. The website warns that foreign visitors are carefully watched by security cameras and Federal Security agents for evidence of spying. In particular, attempting to sketch or photograph the vehicles in detail for purposes of creating model military vehicles is considered espionage and will result in arrest.

As of June 2012 these foreign visitor restrictions were not being enforced.