Ust-Ilimsk history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Ust-Ilimsk is inextricably linked to the era of large-scale industrial development of Siberia in the second half of the 20th century. This is a young city that did not emerge spontaneously, but according to a precise state plan.

• 1962: The State Commission selected the site at Tolstoy Cape on the Angara River for the construction of a new hydroelectric power station.
• 1965: The first team of machine operators landed at the future construction site, and the creation of a temporary settlement began.
• 1966: The official founding date of the Ust-Ilim settlement; the name was given based on its geographical location — at the mouth of the Ilim River.
• 1973: The rapidly growing workers' settlement received the status of a city of regional significance.

Key Development Factors

The development of Ust-Ilimsk was defined by unique natural conditions and strategic energy objectives.

• Hydropower: The main driver of growth was the construction of the Ust-Ilimsk HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant) — the third stage of the Angara Cascade. The powerful river provided the city with affordable electricity.
• Forest Resources: The endless taiga surrounding the area allowed for the creation of one of the world's largest Timber Processing Complexes (TPC), which became the second city-forming enterprise.
• Human Resources: The city was built by volunteers and youth squads from all over the Soviet Union. Ust-Ilimsk became the site of three All-Union Komsomol Shock Construction Projects simultaneously (the city, the HPP, and the TPC).

Early Cultural and Economic Features

From the very beginning, Ust-Ilimsk was formed as a modern city with a special atmosphere of "Taiga romance".

• "City in the Forest": A unique feature of the layout was the maximum preservation of the natural landscape. Residential districts were built inside the taiga, so islands of centuries-old forest remained directly in the courtyards of houses.
• Cultural Symbol: The enthusiasm of the first builders inspired the creative intelligentsia of that time. The famous song by Aleksandra Pakhmutova, "Letter from Ust-Ilimsk", made the city famous throughout the country even before construction was completed.
• Connection of Times: Although the modern city is young, it inherits the history of the Ilimsk Ostrog (fortress founded in the 17th century), the territory of which fell into the reservoir's flooding zone. Some historical monuments (for example, the Spasskaya Tower) were transported to the "Taltsy" open-air museum.

Major Historical Milestones

The chronology of Ust-Ilimsk is a chronicle of the rapid industrial development of Siberia, where the taiga was transformed into a modern industrial centre within a few decades.

• 1630: Foundation of the Ilimsk Ostrog, the historical predecessor of the city, whose territory later went under the waters of the reservoir.
• 1962: The State Commission approved the site at Tolstoy Cape on the Angara for the construction of a new hydroelectric power station.
• 1965: The first detachment of machine operators arrived at the future construction site, marking the beginning of infrastructure creation.
• 1966: The formed workers' settlement was officially assigned the name Ust-Ilim.
• 1973: The settlement received the status of a city of regional significance and its modern name — Ust-Ilimsk.
• 1974: The first hydraulic units of the Ust-Ilimsk HPP were put under industrial load.
• 1975: The start of the construction of the Timber Processing Complex (TPC) — a large-scale international project involving CMEA countries.
• 1979: The last unit of the HPP was put into operation, and the station reached its design capacity.
• 1980: The first batch of marketable bleached pulp was obtained at the pulp mill.
• 1985: Opening of the "Druzhba" Palace of Culture, built by construction workers from the GDR (East Germany), which became a symbol of the city.
• 1988: Launch of a unique high-speed tram line connecting residential areas with the industrial site of the TPC.
• 1993: Foundation of the Ust-Ilimsk Drama and Comedy Theatre, an important cultural institution in the region.
• 2013: After a long break, the airport resumed operations in the city, improving transport accessibility for tourists.

Stages of Formation and Development

The development of Ust-Ilimsk can be divided into several key stages, each of which radically changed the appearance and economic status of the territory. From a tent camp to a major industrial centre, the city has traveled a path that defined its modern significance.

• Obtaining City Status (1973): Official transformation of the workers' settlement into a city of regional significance. This event signaled the transition from temporary construction schemes to general planning of permanent residential districts and social infrastructure.
• Energy Start (1974–1979): Phased commissioning of the Ust-Ilimsk HPP units. The launch of the station not only provided the region with cheap electricity but also created the necessary base for locating energy-intensive industries, becoming the foundation of the city's economy.
• International Construction of the TPC (1975–1980): The construction of the timber industry giant was carried out with the participation of CMEA countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, GDR, Poland, Romania). This turned Ust-Ilimsk into a centre of international cooperation, which was reflected in the quality of construction and the appearance of social and cultural facilities of a European standard.
• Urban Planning Experiment (1970–1980s): Implementation of the "city in the taiga" concept. Unlike many Soviet cities, here, during construction, areas of centuries-old forest were deliberately preserved inside residential blocks, creating a unique ecological environment and visual appearance of the city.
• Launch of the High-Speed Tram (1988): Opening of the high-speed tram line connecting the residential areas of the right bank with the TPC industrial site. This is a rare example of the successful implementation of high-speed rail transport in a small Siberian city, becoming its calling card.
• Restoration of Transport Accessibility (2013): Resumption of airport operations after a long downtime. The return of regular air service with Irkutsk and other cities became a crucial factor for maintaining business activity and developing tourism potential in recent years.

Urban Planning Concept: "City in the Taiga"

The architectural appearance of Ust-Ilimsk is unique in that it was formed in the late USSR era "from a clean slate" according to a single general plan. The main idea of the designers was the concept of maximum integration of the urban environment with nature.

• Landscape Preservation: During the construction of residential districts, the forest was not completely cut down but left in large massifs inside the courtyards. This created the effect of houses standing directly in the taiga.
• Two-Part Structure: The city is clearly divided by the Angara River into two parts, connected by a bridge and the HPP dam:
  • Left Bank (Old City): This is where the history of Ust-Ilimsk began. The development is more intimate, corresponding to the early period of development (1960s — early 1970s).
  • Right Bank (New City): The main part of the modern city with wide avenues and multi-storey buildings, erected during the construction of the TPC (1970–1980s).

Architectural Styles and Eras

Due to the city's youth, historical styles like Baroque or Classicism are absent here. Ust-Ilimsk is a reserve of Soviet urban planning of the second half of the 20th century.

• Soviet Modernism (1970–1980s): The dominant style. Characterised by concise forms, the use of concrete and glass, functionality, and the monumentality of public buildings.
• Standard Housing Construction (Northern Variant): The basis of the housing stock consists of panel houses of improved series (including 9, 10, and 14-storey buildings), designed specifically for the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia.
• Industrial Aesthetics: Giant industrial complexes (HPP and TPC) are an integral part of the city's visual image, forming its scale and technogenic landscape.

Iconic Buildings and Structures

Despite the standard development, Ust-Ilimsk has objects that stand out for their original architecture, often created thanks to the international cooperation of CMEA countries.

• "Druzhba" Palace of Culture: The most famous building of the city on the right bank. Built by specialists from the GDR (East Germany). It is distinguished by the use of dark brick, complex geometry of volumes, and high-quality finishing, atypical for the Soviet provinces of that time.
• Ust-Ilimsk HPP: A masterpiece of hydraulic architecture. A concrete dam over 100 metres high is organically integrated into the rocky banks of the Angara, creating a powerful monumental image.
• Mira Avenue: The main thoroughfare of the right bank, demonstrating the scope of a Soviet avenue with a rhythmic alternation of high-rise residential buildings and public spaces.
• "Book-Houses": High-rise residential buildings on the right bank that have become vertical landmarks in the city's silhouette.

Outstanding Personalities in the City's History

The history of Ust-Ilimsk and the preceding Ilimsk Ostrog is connected with the names of great explorers, legendary Soviet builders, and cultural figures. These people defined the fate of the region, turning it from a place of exile into an industrial centre.

First Builders and Industrial Organisers

• Ivan Ivanovich Naimushin — Head of "Bratskgesstroy". The legendary construction chief, under whose command the entire Angara cascade of HPPs was built, including the Ust-Ilimsk station. It was his energy and organisational talent that allowed the implementation of a massive project in the remote taiga.
• Mikhail Ivanovich Busygin — First General Director of the Ust-Ilimsk TPC. He led the construction and launch of the timber industry giant. Under his leadership, the plant became one of the largest in the world, and the city received a powerful impulse for the development of social infrastructure.
• Valery Petrovich Pshembaev — Driver Foreman, Hero of Socialist Labour. One of the most famous participants in the "construction of the century". His brigade set records for transporting soil and concrete during the construction of the HPP dam, becoming an example of labour heroism.

Figures of Culture and Public Life

• Aleksandra Nikolayevna Pakhmutova — Composer, People's Artist of the USSR. Together with the poet Nikolai Dobronravov, she visited the construction site in 1963. The song "Letter from Ust-Ilimsk" written by them became the unofficial anthem of the city and attracted thousands of young romantics from all over the country.
• Fred Pavlovich Yusfin — Cultural Organiser, Honorary Citizen. Creator of the legendary "Grenada" club and initiator of many cultural traditions of Ust-Ilimsk. He was the soul of the city, befriended many famous artists and writers, ensuring a rich spiritual life in the young taiga city.

Historical Figures (Era of Ilimsk Ostrog)

Although the modern city is young, this land remembers great people of the past whose fate was linked to the Ilimsk Ostrog (now submerged territory).

• Yerofey Pavlovich Khabarov — Explorer and Researcher. In the 17th century, he served as a clerk in the Ilimsk Ostrog. It was from here that he set off on his famous expeditions to the Amur, expanding the borders of the Russian state to the East.
• Aleksandr Nikolayevich Radishchev — Writer and Philosopher. The author of "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow" served his exile here from 1792 to 1797. In Ilimsk, he wrote the treatise "On Man, His Mortality and Immortality" and practiced medicine for local residents.