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Inside Russia’s ‘military Disneyland,’ a Manhattan-sized theme park that puts the country’s deadly weaponry on display

September 18, 20240
Visitors walk past Russian tanks and military vehicles on display in Patriot Park.

Nikita Shvetsov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Located about 40 miles west of Moscow in Kubinka, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a soft opening for the theme park in 2015, shortly after the Kremlin’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

Putin described the park as “an important element in our system of military-patriotic work with young people,” according to a Guardian report. In the years since, his government has pushed militarism deeper into society, in part through programs that instruct children in rifle assembly or teach teenagers to fly drones.

A vast multipurpose venue
A Russian military band march in front of the Cathedral of Russian Armed Forces in Kubinka, Russia.

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Built to commemorate 75 years since the end of World War II in 2020, the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces drew criticism for blending the country’s military history with its most widespread religion.

The cathedral was further embroiled in controversy after photos showed an unfinished mosaic on a wall depicting Putin and other key Russian political figures, including then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Joseph Stalin. The mosaic was later canceled.

Made from ‘German trophy hardware’
A visitor takes a photo of a US-made armored personnel carriers that was captured in Ukraine on display at an exhibition in Kubinka, Russia.

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The cathedral steps were not the only time Patriot Park served as a venue for Russian war trophies.

Last August, the theme park had an exhibit showcasing Western artillery and tanks purportedly captured in Ukraine, like M777 howitzers and M113 armored personnel carriers.

The captured vehicles were peppered with bulletholes and damage from the battlefield, though it isn’t clear if the assets are authentic or Russian-made replicas.

Ukraine has its own open-air exhibition of destroyed Russian military equipment in Kyiv, which opened on the country’s Independence Day in 2022.

Showcasing Russian military power
A visitor looks through the scope of a Russian firearm with other weapons on display nearby at Patriot Park.

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

One of the exhibition halls featured displays of Russian firearms, which visitors were able to observe and handle.

Massive shooting range
Entertainers in costume pose for a photo with a guest at Patriot Park.

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Though the main draw of Patriot Park is its displays of deadly war memorabilia, it still has attractions that appeal to military enthusiasts of all ages.

No theme park is complete without anthropomorphic animal mascots, and Patriot Park is no exception. Guests are seen taking photos with characters depicting a raccoon and a leopard in camouflage costumes.

Family-friendly fun
Children climb atop a T-62M tank on display at Patriot Park.

NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images

But they’re not discouraged from playing on the real thing, too.