How a ghost village in Russia's Far East became a thriving community

Krasny Yar was once an abandoned village in Russia’s Far East. Over the past decade, it has transformed into a thriving community with a hospital, kindergarten, and bakery. The change came under Alexey Kudryavtsev, director of Bikin National Park, who has led the area’s revival since 2014. Before Kudryavtsev took charge, Krasny Yar had no residents. Now, the village hosts essential services, including a post office and a House of Crafts. These developments were funded through a model involving the Amur Tiger Center, which builds facilities and transfers them to the national park. The park then partners with local agencies, providing the buildings for free—agencies only cover utility costs.

The total investment in these projects since 2015 reaches around 350 million rubles. Bikin National Park itself stands out as one of Russia’s few legally compliant tourist destinations. It employs 74 people, most of them locals who received their first official employment records late in life, often in their 50s or 60s. Kudryavtsev’s approach has not been without controversy. To bypass strict regulations, he once registered a wooden kindergarten as a 'suitable facility'. He also refuses to transfer some buildings to the municipality, arguing that local authorities cannot maintain them properly.

Under Kudryavtsev’s leadership, Krasny Yar has grown from an empty settlement into a functional village. The national park’s partnerships and funding have brought infrastructure and jobs to the area. However, disputes over building ownership and regulatory workarounds remain unresolved.