Report on Conversations With Soviet Scientists on Subject of Unidentified Flying Objects in the USSR

This Central Intelligence Agency information report, dated August 18, 1967, details conversations held with Soviet scientists regarding the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) within the USSR. The report indicates that there is generally little official interest in the UFO phenomenon within the Soviet Union. Throughout the document, various unnamed scientists are consulted. One scientist, a radio astronomer, remained non-committal on the subject. Another astronomer mentioned hearing of sightings near the Caucasus but was unaware of any formal studies. A third individual, described as a stellar spectroscopist, expressed interest in the problem but was dissatisfied with the book written by Menzel, which had been translated into Russian. The report notes that while some Soviet scientists are interested in the topic, they often view it with skepticism. One specific incident mentioned involved an astronomer who observed a reddish object in the countryside, which he concluded was neither a satellite nor a meteorite, though he could not be specific about its nature. Another instance involved sightings of ball lightning, which were later identified as reflections of automobile headlights on an inversion layer. The document concludes that there is no official treatment of the UFO problem in the USSR. Instead, the general feeling among the scientific community is that the phenomenon lacks real scientific substance. Furthermore, the report suggests that Soviet scientists are aware of the negative effects of 'enlightened' scientific opinion on the interpretation of questionable observations, and that enthusiasm for the subject is dampened by the official ridicule associated with UFOs in the United States.