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

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.

The 21-square-mile exhibition park features an interactive military exhibition hall, shooting ranges, museums, and a massive Russian Orthodox cathedral.

Since opening in the vast attraction, it has served as a venue for military demonstrations, historical reenactments, festivals, and religious celebrations.

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.

Built in less than two years, the Russian military cathedral was consecrated in 2020 in a grand ceremony. It went on to host music festivals and Russian religious holidays, complete with parades and performances by entertainers donning military uniforms.

When the $100 million building project was first announced in 2018, Shoigu said the steps of the lavish cathedral would be made from "German trophy hardware," with claims that it would be melted-down Nazi tanks.

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.

The military theme park also displays Russian weaponry and equipment, such as the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile launcher Yars.

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

If park guests want to put their shooting skills to the test, Patriot Park has a firing range spanning nearly 400 acres — roughly the size of Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park in Florida.

For many Russians, this may be their only shot; the country has stricter gun restrictions and less gun ownership than the US.

During a 2018 visit, Putin was photographed firing a Russian sniper rifle at the range.

The shooting range has nearly three dozen shooting bays and room for spectators, storage space, and a restaurant.

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.

Children can ride in a miniature toy tank resembling a WWII-era Soviet T-34, navigating around an obstacle course with red barrels.

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