Russian Underground Stations Look Even More Stunning In Black and White

These photos of Saint Petersburg and Moscow Metro system were taken by Russian photographer Andrey Kruglikov, also known as subwayspecial on Instagram. They highlight the rich architecture that Muscovites see on their daily commutes.

Most of these stations were built during the Soviet Union, and the most extravagants with marble walls, grandiose chandeliers and wonderful reliefs were opened before Cold War era.

Kruglikov uses a Sony DSC-RX1 with a Zeiss 35/2.0 lens for these photos.

Kropotkinskaya, Moscow, designed by Alexey Dushkin and Ya. Likhtenberg, opened on 15 May 1935

Okhothy Ryad, Moscow, designed by Yuri Revkovsky, N. Borov and G. Zamskoy, opened on 15 May 1935

Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Moscow, designed by Alexey Dushkin, opened in March 13, 1938

Aeroport, Moscow, designed by B. Vilensky and V. Yershov, opened on 11 September 1938

Mayakovskaya, Moscow, opened on September 11, 1938

Sokol, Moscow, designed by K. Yakovlev, V. Polikarpova and V. Andreev, opened on 11 September 1938

Elektrozavodskaya, Moscow, designed by Vladimir Shchuko, Vladimir Gelfreich and Igor Rozhin, opened on 15 May 1944

Taganskaya, Moscow, designed by K. Ryzhkov and A. Medvedev, opened on 1 January 1950

Kurskaya, Moscow, designed by G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva, opened on 1 January 1950

Novoslobodskaya, Moscow, designed by Alexey Dushkin and Alexander Strelkov, opened on 30 January 1952

Komsomolskaya, Moscow, designed by Alexey Shchusev, opened on 30 January 1952

Prospekt Mira, Moscow, designed by Vladimir Gelfreykh and Mikhail Minkus, opened on 30 January 1952

Krasnopresnenskaya, Moscow, designed by V. Yegerev, M. Konstantinov, Felix Novikov and I. Pokrovsky, opened on 14 March 1954

Baltiyskaya, Saint Petersburg, opened on 15 November 1955

Avtovo, Saint Petersburg, designed by Y. A. Levinson, opened on November 15, 1955

Ploshchad Vosstaniya, Saint Petersburg, opened on November 15, 1955

Frunzenskaya, Moscow, opened on 1 May 1957

Elektrosila, Saint Petersburg, opened on 29 April 1961

Tekhnologicheskiy Institut, Saint Petersburg, opened on 29 April 1961

Petrogradskaya, Saint Petersburg, designed by Andreev Moskalenko, opened on July 1, 1963

Ploschad Aleksandra Nevskogo I, Saint Petersburg, opened on November 3, 1967

Yelizarovskaya, Saint Petersburg, opened on December 21, 1970

Barrikadnaya, Moscow, opened on December 30, 1972

Begovaya, Moscow, designed by V. Cheremin, opened on 30 December 1972

Pushkinskaya, Moscow, opened on 17 December 1975

Ploschad Muzhestva, Saint Petersburg, opened on December 31, 1975

Prospekt Veteranov, Saint Petersburg, opened on September 29, 1977

Primorskaya, Saint Petersburg, designed by V. N. Sokolov, M. I. Starodubov and V. A. Penno, opened on 28 September 1979

Shabolovskaya, Moscow, opened on November 6, 1980

Obukhovo, Saint Petersburg, opened on July 10, 1981

Chertanovskaya, Moscow, designed by Nina Alyoshina, opened on November 8, 1983

Tulskaya, Moscow, opened on November 8, 1983

Tsaritsyno (it was known as Lenino until 1990), Moscow, opened on 30 December 1983

Orekhovo, Moscow, designed by L. Popov, V. Volovich and G. Mun. Both, opened on 30 December 1984

Krasnogvardeyskaya, Moscow, designed by I. Petukhova and N. Shumakov, opened on September 7, 1985

Tsvetnoy Bulvar, Moscow, opened in 31 December 1988

Mendeleevskaya, Moscow, opened on December 31, 1988

Bulvar Rokossovskogo, Moscow, opened in August 1, 1990

Otradnoye, Moscow, opened on March 1, 1991

Rimskaya Station, Moscow, opened on 28 December 1995

Bratislavskaya, Moscow, designed by A. Orlov and A. Nekrasov, opened on 25 December 1996

Annino, Moscow, opened on 12 December 2001

Park Pobedy, Moscow, opened on May 6, 2003

Slavyansky Bulvar, Moscow, opened on September 7, 2008

Volokolamskaya, Moscow, opened on 26 December 2009

Dostoyevskaya, Moscow, opened on 19 June 2010

Borisovo, Moscow, opened in December 2, 2011

Shipilovskaya, Moscow, opened on 2 December 2011

Novokosino, Moscow, opened on August 30, 2012