Transcript of Interview with Major General Yuriy Grigoryevich Gusev on 'Utro' Program

This document is a transcript of a television interview conducted on October 1, 1992, between Mikhail Solntsev of the 'Utro' program and Major General Yuriy Grigoryevich Gusev, the deputy commander of the Russian Ministry of Defense Space Units. The discussion covers the role of Russian space units, the transition of the space program from military-dominated to a balance of civilian and military interests, and the geopolitical landscape regarding space assets. Gusev explains that space units are responsible for ground infrastructure, launch operations, and the maintenance of space equipment. He addresses concerns about the number of intelligence satellites held by Russia versus NATO and the United States, noting that NATO currently possesses a greater number. The interview also touches upon the history of the Soviet space program, specifically the 35th anniversary of the first artificial satellite launch. Toward the end of the interview, Solntsev asks Gusev if he believes in the existence of UFOs. Gusev explicitly states that he does not believe in the existence of UFOs as described in the context of mysterious apparatuses piloted by humanoids. However, he confirms that he has personally observed unidentified phenomena in the form of a ray of light during a flight in an aircraft, the origin of which remains a mystery to him. The document concludes with a brief exchange of pleasantries and a description of video footage showing launch preparations.