For three decades during the last century (1958 to 1988), there was a Soviet missile base at Kopūstėliai on the River Šventoji, in the picturesque forests between Ukmergė and Vepriai.
Some of the Soviet army’s most powerful missiles, the 8K63, were brought here in 1960. Eight of them altogether were kept in concealed hangars at Kopūstėliai. The sunken concrete structures were covered with sand, and planted over with grass, bushes and trees. There used to be two of these hangars at Kopūstėliai, and four missile-launching sites next to them.
The warheads for the missiles were kept separately about two kilometres away, also in Kopūstėliai Forest. The nuclear warheads were on special transporters on wheels, and were operated and protected by a separate military unit. The 8K63 missiles had a range of up to 3,000 kilometres, so that nuclear weapons fired from Kopūstėliai could have reached Turkey, Norway, Great Britain, Germany and other countries, but not the USA, as is often claimed. The missiles were only prepared for use on one occasion, at the time of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
The area was closely guarded and surveyed all day and night. The weapons area of Kopūstėliai Missile Base was surrounded by 12 rows of barbed wire fences, reaching a height of two metres. Behind the fences, the Tantal security system was used: invisible sensors that responded to any moving object, and which sent a message to guard headquarters. The whole area was surrounded by an electrified security system, a network that was invisible to the human eye, with a constant voltage of 380 volts, and 1800 volts in emergencies. The base was also surrounded by mines, trenches and gun emplacements, which were all controlled from guard headquarters. In addition, the base was constantly monitored from the air …
Kopūstėliai Missile Base was in operation up to 1988. Following the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty by the USSR and the USA, the missiles were removed from the base. The site became accessible to the public after Lithuania regained its independence.
Today, the Forest Brothers Club, showing the history of the partisans, is based at the missile base. It is beautiful and symbolic that the struggle for freedom is now presented in a former military site of the occupying power. The aims of the club are to present the history of the Lithuanian partisan movement and cultural life in postwar Lithuania, and to encourage the values of citizenship and patriotism among young people. For this reason, partisan-themed educational events and other cultural events are held there, as well as children’s camps and a museum to the partisans. During excursions, it is possible to go round the base on foot with guides, or in a real military vehicle! On these excursions, visitors can learn about the history of the Soviet Kopūstėliai Missile Base, and view the surviving buildings and other items from those times.
Anyone wishing to visit the former Kopūstėliai Missile Base must register in advance by telephoning: +37065070790. The Forest Brothers Club is a participant in the Cultural Passport Programme.
The article is part of the project “Promotion of innovative tourism in Ukmergė by improving the skills of employees and online marketing service systems.” The project is implemented with funding from the Agency for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
