Although the closure of cities originated as a strictly temporary measure which was to be normalized under more favorable conditions, in practice the closed cities took on a life of their own and became a notable institutional feature of the Soviet system.
Selv om lukning af byer havde sin oprindelse som et midlertidigt tiltag, som skulle normaliseres under mere gunstige betingelser, så levede de lukkede byer i praksis deres egne liv og blev et bemærkelsesværdigt institutionelt træk i Sovjetunionen.