USSR: UFO SIGHTINGS NO. 2 -- GENERAL MALTSEV COMMENTS

This document, a Foreign Press Note dated 1990, details the Soviet military's engagement with reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. It highlights that Soviet newspapers, specifically Rabochaya Tribuna, published accounts of UFO sightings following comments from Colonel General of Aviation Igor Maltsev, the chief of the Main Staff of the Soviet Air Defense Forces. The report notes that over 100 visual observations were compiled by commanders within the Moscow Military District. A specific incident involving Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Semenchenko is recounted, wherein he was ordered to intercept an unidentified target near Pereslavl-Zalesskiy on March 21. Semenchenko reported that the target, which displayed two flashing white lights, failed to respond to 'identify-friend or foe' requests and performed maneuvers, including altitude and directional changes. The pilot described the object as a luminous phenomenon similar to the Aurora Borealis and noted that he approached within 500-600 meters of the target before observing its silhouette.