The city is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of 40 kilometers (25 mi) from north to south and 20 kilometers (12 mi) from east to west. Many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to provide water power for the cotton mills in the 19th century.
History
Balashikha was established in 1830.[2] It was given town status in 1939.[8]
Balashikha is the site of a large Russian Armybase. It was closed to foreigners during the Soviet era. It was the headquarters of the 1st Corps of the Soviet Air Defense Forces and is now to become the headquarters of the Operational-Strategic Command for Missile-Space Defense. Balashikha is also a base for ODON (Internal security division). Balashikha is home to Military Unit 35690, which is a training facility used by the Federal Security Service.[9]
↑Bellingcat Investigation Team (February 17, 2020). ""V" For "Vympel": FSB's Secretive Department "V" Behind Assassination of Georgian Asylum Seeker in Germany". bellingcat. Most frequent were Krasikov's visits to FSB's highly secure Special Operations Center in Balashiha, a suburb just outside Moscow. This heavily guarded facility, known as Military Unit 35690, was the original military base for the KGB's Vympel Spetsnaz unit, and now serves as headquarters for the FSB's CSO, as well the home-base of the elite and secretive Departments V and A.