1967 Intel Report on Conversations with Soviet Scientists on UFOs in USSR

Approved for Release 2026

: e ss during the trip were astronomers, and in-
_ quirt ‘concerning Soviet observations and interprecations of tro's

minor aspect of the trip. Within these limitations, en attempt

. as made te an ae epee senennttte een on chte controversial

on, Sternberg Institute, Moscow, who was. noncomalt+
of UFO's. The scientist who served es translator,
astronomer, Go phatioally stated that he knew of no sightings
UFO's in the wssR and added with a laugh that if ced were only seen
: ee must be of Geviat —

which han ‘bees tems

a "but did not accept his conclusions, Kozyrev knew
of some ighting ‘im the northern part of the USSR, but ‘said that re-
printed in Soviet newspapers because
renarded ‘as scien ific observeticns. (Commnt: this is
; # of Soviet newspapers to being res
“observations” suggested by th
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experience of this effect. (Commence; Kozyrev is a controversial figure
in the Soviet scientific community as well as internationally, Appar-
ently one of his questionable observations (the activity of the central
peak in the lunar crater Alphonsus) has turned out to be correct, On
the other hand, {t is really more accurate to say that this observation
led to an intensive search for activity on the Moon that has produced
some positive results, There may be no connection between the two seta

of data, however.)

At the Main Astronomical Observatory, Kiev, little interest is shown in
the UFO question. I.K, Koval mentioned that he and several other as-
tronomers had been out in the countryside one evening and had seen a
curious, reddish object flashing through the sky that they were convinced
was neither a satellite nor a meteorite, However, their immediate in-
terpretation was that this object might have been a fragment of a satel-
lite or rocket returniag from orbit, burning up in the atmosphere. Koval
thought that UFO's had been seen in the USSR but he could not be specific
as to locations and characteristics.

At the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Crimea, again little interest
was shown. One of the astronomers, L.I. Galkin, was with the group men-
tioned by Koval and confirmed the observation of a peculiar object. He
did not discuss the experience in detail but clearly had been struck by
the possibility that the object might have been a "saucer."

At the Astrophysical Institute, Alma Ata, there was considerable interest.
The institute includes an Atmospheric Optics Section presided over by
G.S, Lifschitz. However, the initial discussion of the problem was with
the director of the institue, G.M. Idlis. He too had read Menzel's

book, but considered it an adequate treatment of the subject which he
consequently felt was closed. He indicated that no observations of UFO's
had been made by his staff and that they had received no reports of such
observations. However, when the US scientist proceeded to indicate the
results of McDonald's critical study of the problem, Idlis readily con-
ceded that there might be more to it and concluded by stating that it

was "clearly still an open question."

Another astronomer mentioned that in ths northern part of Kazakhstan
there had been repeated sightings of ball lightning. The University in
Alma At. had sent a team out to investigate and discovered that what wai
being seen were reflections of automobile headlights from an inversion
layer.

Later, a discussion was held with Lifachitz. He was not very impressed
with Menzel's book, but was also not impressed with the significance of
the phenomenon. Tt is possible that some interest was kindled that might
lead to additional investigations,

A stellar spectroscopist, Dr. wuy Kupo, was also interested in this
problem, partly as an adjunct to her attempts to locate fragments from
bolides. Sha was elso dissatisfied with Menzel's book and felt that
there was definitely an opportunity for additional research,

The general feeliug one gets is that no official treatment of the UFO
problem has been given in the USSR, Instead people refer to the US
work, principally Menzel's book, to demonstrate the absence of real
scientific problems. At the same time, there is an almost universal
awareness of the history and characteristics of the phenomenon often as-
sociuted with considerable interest, The reault is that a demonstration
of the inadequacy of US Official «explanations coupled with some proof of
the reality of the observations might excite entiusiesm more daly
among Soviet astronomers than among their US counterparts who are more
ca influenced by the official ridicule associated with UFO's in

the US. .