Parts of the Moscow Metro were constructed in the 1930s, supervised by Nikita Khrushchev. After the war, new parts of the Metro were constructed, and these sections were designed to by A-bomb proof.

Yes, the Moscow Metro was intentionally designed and constructed to serve as a dual-purpose civilian bomb shelter, a role it maintains in 2026. During the Cold War, many of the deeper stations, such as Park Pobedy (which sits 84 meters or 276 feet underground), were reinforced with blast doors, independent ventilation systems, and airtight seals to protect the population from nuclear, biological, or chemical attacks. In fact, during World War II, the Metro served as a primary air-raid shelter for thousands of Muscovites during the Nazi blitz of the city; it even housed government offices and hospital wards during the siege. Today, most stations are still equipped with heavy steel gates hidden behind decorative panels at the entrances. While tourists visit the Metro for its "Palaces for the People" architecture—complete with chandeliers and mosaics—its fundamental engineering remains rooted in its strategic military purpose as one of the world's largest and deepest fallout shelters.