Zelenograd

Zelenograd is an administrative district in Moscow, Russia, located around 37 kilometers northwest of the city center as an exclave within Moscow Oblast. The district divides into five municipal parts: Matushkino, Saviolki, Staroye Kryukovo, Silino, and Kryukovo.

The Soviet government founded the district in March 1958 to create a center for electronics and microelectronics. Access remained restricted until 1991 because of secret research activities conducted there.

Locals often call the district "Zelka" as a short nickname, and its streets reflect the original Soviet planning with clusters of apartments around research centers. The name itself translates to "green town" in Russian, chosen to emphasize the forested surroundings that still separate the area from the main part of Moscow.

Buses and commuter trains connect all five municipal parts to each other and to central Moscow. The journey to the city center takes about an hour depending on traffic.

The district maintains sister city ties with Tulsa in Oklahoma and Unterschleißheim in Bavaria. These connections formed during the post-Cold War period when the area opened to international contact.

Location: Moscow

Inception: March 3, 1958

Reference: ЗелАО

Part of: Zelenograd and New Moscow

Website: https://zelao.ru

GPS coordinates: 55.99778,37.19028

Latest update: December 15, 2025 07:24