Kilometer Zero
Nulevoy Kilometr
Moscow Russia
2013

The bronze plaque marking Russia's kilometre zero is in Moscow, just in front of the Iberian Chapel, in a short passage connecting Red Square with Manege Square and flanked by the State Historical Museum and the City Duma.

https://izi.travel/en/55e7-kilometer-zero-on-russian-road-maps/en

If “all roads lead to Rome”, then all roads in the USSR led to the “Third Rome” – Moscow. And distances along those roads were measured from a single central point in Moscow. This point lies in front of the Voskresensky Gates and is marked with an eight-point star, and an inscription “Zero-Kilometer Mark of Roads in the Russian Federation”. There had been an earlier idea to place the marker-point inside the GUM Shopping Arcade at the central intersection of its aisles.

Both locations claimed for “kilometer zero” are actually rather fanciful, because the measuring of distances on roads had been the task of the Imperial Postal Service long before there was ever a Soviet Ministry of Roads. The Postmen, of course, measured the distance to the Central Post Office – which is several kilometers away near Christie Priudy metro station, and this continues to be the accurate measurement-point.

On the topic of fanciful ideas, you’ll probably notice another little superstition going on here. Legend has it that if you toss a coin backwards over your shoulder and successfully land it within the Zero-Kilometer star-marker, then your wish will come true. Give it a try yourself? The coins are eagerly scooped-up by alms-seeking beggars gathered around the Chapel of the Georgian Virgin, so at least someone’s wish will get a little assistance.