Mezaine

In the 1960s, two Soviet Dnepr radar (NATO designation "Hen House") installations were constructed at the site near the town of Skrunda. A Daryal radar was being built there before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The installation was strategically important to the Soviet Union as its radars covered Western Europe. The two barn-like radars were one of the most important Soviet early warning radar stations for listening to objects in space and for tracking possible incoming ICBMs.{{Cite journal|first=Pavel |last=Podvig |year=2002 |title=History and the Current Status of the Russian Early-Warning System |journal=Science and Global Security |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=21–60 |url=http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/20734/Podvig-S&GS.pdf |doi= 10.1080/08929880212328|bibcode=2002S&GS...10...21P |s2cid=122901563 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315024323/http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/20734/Podvig-S%26GS.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-15 }}

Pursuant to an agreement (On the Legal Status of the Skrunda Radar Station During its temporary Operation and Dismantling), signed by Latvia and Russia on 30 April 1994,{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/news/latest-news/2206-latvia-takes-over-the-territory-of-the-skrunda-radar-station |title=Latvia takes over the territory of the Skrunda Radar Station |date=24 March 2004 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia |accessdate=6 February 2010 |archive-date=21 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421235023/https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/news/latest-news/2206-latvia-takes-over-the-territory-of-the-skrunda-radar-station |url-status=live }} Russia had been allowed to run the radar station for four years, after which it was obliged to dismantle the station within eighteen months. The deadline for dismantling was 29 February 2000.{{cite book|last=Chandra|first=Ramesh|title=Minority: Social and Political Conflict|publisher=Isha Books|location=Delhi, India|year=2004|pages=129|isbn=978-81-8205-140-9}} Russia asked Latvia to extend the lease on the Dnepr station for at least two years, until the new Volga station under construction near Baranovichi in Belarus became operational. Riga rejected these requests, and the radar was verified closed on 4 September 1998 by an inspection team from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.{{cite book|last=Rosenstiel|first=Francis |author2=Edith Lejard-Boutsavath |author3=Jean-Jacques Martz|title=European Yearbook 1999|editor=Council of Europe|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|location=The Hague, Netherlands|year=2001|pages=335|isbn=978-90-411-1677-2}}{{cite book|last=Bloed|first=Arie|title=The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe: basic documents, 1993-1995|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|location=The Hague, Netherlands|year=1997|pages=390–398|isbn=978-90-411-0372-7}}

Image:Old USSR armies base in Skrunda - radio-locator 1995 year- радиолокационныи комплекс раннего обнаружения "Скрунда" - panoramio.jpg

On 4 May 1995 US demolition experts razed a 19-story tower, which housed a former Soviet Daryal radar system, one of the most advanced bistatic early-warning radars in the world. Construction of the tower began in 1984, but was halted by local authorities in August 1991. It served as one of the USSR's most important radar stations as it was responsible for scanning skies to the west for incoming bombers or nuclear missiles before the USSR disintegrated. The event spilled tens of thousands of Latvian people onto country roads and fields to watch the early morning spectacle, which was also televised nationwide. A dedicated soundtrack, Liberatio, was written by Latvian composer Zigmars Liepiņš to accompany the event. Latvian leaders, diplomats and other officials toasted the blast with champagne, with the Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Birkavs proclaiming that with this event "World War II in Latvia has [finally] ended". The demolition was sponsored by the US, who paid 7 million US dollars for the destruction performed by Controlled Demolition, Inc.{{cite web|title=LATVIA: SKRUNDA: DEMOLITION OF 19 STOREY TOWER|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5ebebbe8d898ac4fae74d51cd0f051b1|publisher=Associated Press, AP Archive 04/05/1995 04:00 AM|accessdate=30 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202064429/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5ebebbe8d898ac4fae74d51cd0f051b1|url-status=live}} The rubble was cleared by November 1995.

In a joint New Year 1998 statement, the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania urged Russian President Boris Yeltsin to complete the pullout of all Russian troops from the region, as Russia had promised four years prior in 1994.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} All materials of value were removed from the site and transported back to Russia when the last Russian troops left that year; the 60 buildings that comprised the former complex and town, including apartment blocks, a school, barracks and an officers club, were abandoned but left standing.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/for-sale-bargain-missile-warning-station-no-mod-cons-20100206-njvr.html|title=For sale: bargain missile warning station, no mod cons|date=7 February 2010|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=6 February 2010|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605050313/http://www.smh.com.au/world/for-sale-bargain-missile-warning-station-no-mod-cons-20100206-njvr.html|url-status=live}} The buildings, in increasing disrepair, were still standing in 2010.

File:Skrundas kara pilsētiņa.jpg

The Latvian government decided to sell the site in 2008, and on 5 February 2010, the entire {{convert|40|ha|acre|adj=on}} former town was sold as a single lot at auction in Riga.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/and-finally/soviet-ghost-town-for-sale-2051360.html|title=Soviet ghost town for sale|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=6 February 2010|date=6 February 2010|archive-date=24 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024010819/http://www.independent.ie/and-finally/soviet-ghost-town-for-sale-2051360.html|url-status=live}} The starting bid was 150,000 lats (290,000 USD; 211,000 EUR).{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5geBJbRTiV88AyHV7poQnXs6kcXKA|title=Latvia auctions off Soviet military ghost town|date=5 February 2010|publisher=AFP|access-date=6 February 2010|archive-date=13 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213063737/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5geBJbRTiV88AyHV7poQnXs6kcXKA|url-status=dead}} The winning bid was by Russian firm Alekseevskoye-Serviss for 1.55 million lats (3.1{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100205/ap_on_re_eu/eu_latvia_town_for_sale |title=Latvian ghost town auctioned off for $3.1 million |last=Koksarovs |first=Romans |author2=Peach, Gary |date=5 February 2010 |publisher=AP |accessdate=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208183054/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100205/ap_on_re_eu/eu_latvia_town_for_sale |archivedate=February 8, 2010 }} million USD; 2.2 million EUR). The auction, which lasted two hours, was also contested by another Russian firm, as well as a bidder from Azerbaijan.{{cite web|url=http://balticreports.com/?p=9605|title=Latvia sells entire town for €2.2 million|last=Dahl|first=James|date=6 February 2010|publisher=Baltic Reports|accessdate=6 February 2010|archive-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216151801/http://balticreports.com/?p=9605|url-status=dead}}

The winning bidder pulled out of the auction, as did the runner up.{{cite web|url=http://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/latvijoje-buves-karinis-skrundos-miestelis-parduotas-uz-170-tukstanciu-latu-57-102136|title=Latvijoje buvęs karinis Skrundos miestelis parduotas už 170 tūkstančių latų (nuotraukos)|date=5 June 2010|publisher=15min.lt|accessdate=14 May 2012|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012001337/http://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/latvijoje-buves-karinis-skrundos-miestelis-parduotas-uz-170-tukstanciu-latu-57-102136|url-status=live}} The town was reauctioned in June 2010 for only 170,000 Lats.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/real_estate/?doc=27830|title=Former Skrunda army base auctioned off for LVL 170,000|date=6 June 2010|publisher=The Baltic Course|accessdate=14 May 2012|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816093129/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/real_estate/?doc=27830|url-status=live}}

In 2015 the site was bought by Skrunda Municipality for €12,000 (${{To USD|12000|EUR}}). Around half the area was transferred to the Latvian National Armed Forces as a training ground. The remainder is to be leased by the local government with the stipulation that potential investors develop the area economically.{{cite web|url=http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/local-government-to-purchase-military-ghost-town.a113997/|title=Local government to purchase military ghost town|date=16 January 2015|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|accessdate=21 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163602/http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/local-government-to-purchase-military-ghost-town.a113997/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/ghost-town-finds-use-as-military-training-ground.a138608/|title=Ghost town finds use as military training ground|date=22 July 2015|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|accessdate=21 December 2015|archive-date=30 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130105030/http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/ghost-town-finds-use-as-military-training-ground.a138608/|url-status=live}} Demolition of selected derelict buildings has since commenced.{{cite web|url=http://www.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/vide-un-dzivnieki/dzive/skrundas-lokatora-pilsetina-uzsakta-militaro-buvju-demontaza.a164195/|title=Skrundas lokatora pilsētiņā uzsākta militāro būvju demontāža|date=14 January 2016|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|accessdate=21 December 2015|archive-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409043648/http://www.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/vide-un-dzivnieki/dzive/skrundas-lokatora-pilsetina-uzsakta-militaro-buvju-demontaza.a164195/|url-status=live}}

From February 2016 in response to increased interest at the site, the municipality began charging an entrance fee of 4 euros for individuals.{{cite web|url=http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/bijusaja-skrundas-lokatora-pilsetina-ievies-ieejas-maksu.d?id=47027449|title=Bijušajā Skrundas lokatora pilsētiņā ievieš ieejas maksu|date=4 February 2016|publisher=DELFI|accessdate=9 April 2016|archive-date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424180057/http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/bijusaja-skrundas-lokatora-pilsetina-ievies-ieejas-maksu.d?id=47027449|url-status=live}} As of 21 October 2018 the ghost town was closed for visitors and is solely used by the armed forces of Latvia and its NATO allies.

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://pamirsta.lt/karinis-miestelis-skrunda/ More about Soviet military installation and the ghost town]
• [http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/skrunda-1-hen-house-over-the-horizon-radar-site/ Google Aerial View on Virtual Globetrotting]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military training area Mežaine}}

Category:Military locations of Latvia

Category:Kuldīga Municipality