Embassy of Russia

The Embassy of Russia stands on 5ta avenida in Vedado, Havana, and is best known for its towering late-Soviet brutalist design. Completed in 1985, the monolithic building was designed by Russian architect Aleksandr Rochegev. It sits inside a walled compound with apartment buildings, tennis courts and a swimming pool, but the embassy is not open to the public. See it from outside and look at its unusual profile from different angles. Its scale makes it a useful landmark when exploring this part of the district.

A Soviet-era tower in Vedado

The Russian Embassy is on 5ta avenida in Vedado. Completed in 1985, it was designed by Russian architect Aleksandr Rochegev. Its tall, monolithic form stands apart from the district’s more classical buildings, giving the site a strikingly different profile.

The building’s design is commonly identified as late-Soviet brutalism, with a futurist quality. Its appearance has prompted sharply different reactions, so take time to view the structure from more than one angle and judge its shape for yourself.

The compound and the public view

The embassy occupies a walled compound that includes apartment buildings, tennis courts and a swimming pool. A wall topped with barbed wire and glass surrounds the grounds, and the site is not open to the public. Plan to see the building from outside rather than expecting an interior visit.

The tower is sometimes nicknamed “The Sword of Russia” or “The Syringe.” Whatever you make of its appearance, its prominent position makes it easy to use as a reference point while walking around Vedado. Security concerns have been reported around photography, and GPS signals can be unreliable in the area; use caution and do not rely on satellite navigation alone.