Buzz
Nearly thirty years have passed since the Soviet Union dissolved, allowing previously hidden information to surface. Among these revelations are numerous UFO and alien reports that were kept secret during the Cold War era, much to the delight of UFO enthusiasts.
Below are ten such accounts. If the Soviet Union still existed today, these stories would likely remain locked away in a secure vault behind the Iron Curtain.
10. Soldiers Petrified in Ukraine
One of the most bizarre and fascinating UFO claims from the Soviet era involves an incident where several soldiers were allegedly turned to stone.
The exact date of the incident remains uncertain, though it is believed to have occurred in the late 1970s or early 1980s. According to the report, a silver, saucer-shaped object appeared above a Soviet military unit training in Ukraine. A surface-to-air missile was fired at the object, causing it to crash, though it is unclear whether this action was deliberate or accidental.
Five beings with “large heads and large black eyes” emerged from the craft and began merging into a single spherical object. This sphere grew in size and brightness, accompanied by an unsettling buzzing sound. In a sudden flash, the sphere vanished, and 23 soldiers caught in its light were instantly transformed into “stone poles.” Only two soldiers, who were outside the glow, survived.
The remnants of the UFO and the “petrified soldiers” were transported to Moscow for further investigation.
9. The Testimony of Oscar Linke
Oscar Linke’s account from Soviet-controlled Germany reached the Western world through a CIA report titled “‘Flying Saucers’ in East Germany.” This report, based on Linke’s escape to the West, details an incident believed to have occurred in the summer of 1952. The CIA sourced much of the report from an article in a Greek newspaper.
While riding his motorcycle home with his 11-year-old daughter Gabriella in the sidecar, Oscar suddenly felt a tug on the vehicle. Discovering a flat tire, he stopped to inspect it. As they pushed the bike along the road, Gabriella noticed something moving ahead of them.
Leaving his daughter with the bike, Oscar moved closer to investigate. Approximately 40 meters (130 ft) away, he saw two humanoid figures clad in “shiny metallic clothing.” Behind them stood an object resembling a “large frying pan” with a black conical tower at its center. When the figures noticed him, they hurried into their craft, which began spinning rapidly before ascending at incredible speed.
8. Arkady Ivanovich Apraksin
The third entry is particularly intriguing because Arkady Ivanovich Apraksin, a supposedly heroic Russian fighter pilot, does not officially exist in Soviet records. His story became known in the West through UFO researcher Dr. Felix Zigel and later through UK investigator Timothy Good.
Their research reveals that Apraksin was highly decorated during World War II, earning the Red Star, Red Banner, and Patriotic War First Class awards. After the war, he became one of the Soviet Union’s top test pilots for classified military aircraft.
During a test flight in June 1948, Apraksin encountered a “cucumber-shaped” craft emitting “cones of light.” He attempted to engage the object, but one of the light beams struck his plane, disabling it instantly. His superiors issued a statement and ordered him to take a six-week leave. By May 1949, he was back testing aircraft. While flying at approximately 15,000 meters (49,000 ft), his plane was caught in a light cone as the same UFO reappeared. He managed to execute an emergency landing about 80 kilometers (50 mi) from his base.
After this incident, Apraksin underwent “evaluation” and was classified as “Group One Disabled,” ending his active military service. Shortly afterward, he seemingly disappeared from official records entirely.
7. The Yaroslavl Sightings
In the early 1930s, numerous strange sightings were reported in Russia’s Yaroslavl province. Locals linked these events to the 1928 crash of an unidentified craft into Lake Vedlozero, which sank beneath the thick ice.
In subsequent years, there were frequent reports of creatures with “thin arms and legs” near the lake, often described as wearing shiny, silvery outfits. Strange objects were also seen hovering over the area before disappearing in flashes of light. On one occasion, a “gel-like” substance was discovered on the ground after a sighting. Some accounts even mention interactions between these beings and isolated villages.
Modern UFO researchers visiting the area report that many locals claim to experience frequent “interference” with their televisions and radios. Whether this phenomenon is connected to the events of the 1930s remains a topic of debate.
6. Stories from the Valley of Death
The “Valley of Death” in Siberia, located along the Upper Vilyuy River, is steeped in centuries-old legends and folklore. Visitors to this region have reportedly fallen suddenly ill, sometimes fatally. In 2013, Michale Visok led an expedition to investigate the alleged “cauldrons,” believed to be remnants of ancient alien technology. However, the team had to abandon their mission due to severe illness resembling radiation poisoning.
Legends describe a great battle in ancient times, where “balls of fire” were launched from the ground at massive aerial ships. These flames originated from “cauldrons” that emerged from the Earth, resembling anti-aircraft weapons. The battle ended with an explosion “louder than any heard before,” devastating the region and all life within it. The descriptions bear a striking resemblance to a nuclear explosion, which may explain the illness that afflicts those who enter the Valley of Death.
5. The Abduction in the Caucasus Mountains
During the summer of 1948, in a small village nestled in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains, a young brother and sister fell asleep in a field while watching cows graze under the sun. The sister and her friend lay in the sun to tan, while the boy chose a shaded spot. He was abruptly awakened by a “piercing whistle” and the sight of a massive silver object resembling an “upside-down plate” hovering above him.
Though frightened, the boy stayed put, observing the scene. The craft landed nearby, and a doorway opened, revealing three humanoid figures. They approached the boy, took his hand, and guided him into their vessel. As he entered and walked down a corridor, the door closed behind him. He was taken to a room with four cages made of “metallic rods.”
One cage held a large bear, while the others contained humans: a disheveled, naked woman; three Caucasian men; and a “man of Slavic descent.” The boy was placed in the cage with the Slavic man. While the Caucasian men remained calm, seemingly in prayer, the woman screamed hysterically, and the bear grew increasingly restless, pacing in its confined space.
A table “emerged from the wall,” and one of the Caucasian men was placed on it. The three alien beings began a live dissection, placing the man’s body parts into a medical box before cleaning the area to remove the blood. They then exited the room.
The young boy and Sasha, the Slavic man, briefly escaped their cages but were recaptured by the aliens. After explaining that their experiments aimed to study Earth’s lifeforms, particularly humans post-World War II atomic blasts, the aliens struck a deal with Sasha. He agreed to accompany them to their planet in exchange for the release of the two other men, the woman, and the boy. The aliens honored the agreement. Although the boy never saw the extraterrestrials again, he was visited years later by military personnel and a civilian who questioned him. The boy refused to answer, and they left after warning him to keep their conversation secret.
4. The Lake Balkash Crash Recovery
Declassified KGB documents reveal that hundreds of witnesses saw a “silver disc” fall from the sky into Lake Balkash in 1963. The exact date remains unclear. Within hours, a retrieval team recovered the wreckage and transported it to a hidden underground facility in Slepnogorsk.
Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time, was informed of the incident. Days later, he visited the site to inspect the remains and receive updates from Soviet scientists attempting to reverse-engineer the craft.
This incident is not the only alleged UFO recovery in the former Soviet Union. For instance, in 1962, two disc-shaped objects crashed and were retrieved. The first crashed in Semipalatinsk and was taken to a facility in Zhitkur, while the second landed in a remote northern region and was transported to a location near Moscow.
In recent years, numerous former high-ranking Soviet officials have publicly acknowledged incidents involving UFOs and the activities at Kapustin Yar, often referred to as the Soviet equivalent of Area 51.
3. The ‘Glimmering Jellyfish’ Over Petrozavodsk
Around 4:00 AM on September 20, 1977, dockworkers in Petrozavodsk observed a “blinding light” approaching from over Lake Onega. Witnesses described the object as resembling a “glimmering jellyfish” as it drew closer. After hovering in place for several minutes, it emitted “ultra-thin beams of light,” as if scanning the area or preparing for an attack.
Twelve minutes later, the lights dimmed, and the object transformed into a “bright semicircle” before speeding away in the direction it had come. The dockworkers watched it shrink into the distance before it ascended, leaving a “burning red hole in the clouds.”
Soviet authorities initially speculated that the event was linked to Cold War technology from the United States. However, the large number of witnesses and the growing interest in UFOs among Soviet citizens and academics made this explanation unconvincing. The Soviets eventually launched a secret official investigation into the incident.
2. The Topolovka Forest Crash
In 1966, during a geological expedition near Topolovka, geologist Oleg Ivanovich and his team decided to camp overnight after one of their horses got stuck in swamp mud. Shortly after settling in, a massive explosion woke them, and the surrounding forest was engulfed in flames. The intense heat and thick smoke forced the team to seek refuge in a nearby river.
By morning, the flames had subsided, though some areas still burned. The team noticed their equipment malfunctioning as they searched for the source of the explosion. Radios were dead, compasses spun uncontrollably, and the men reported feeling an unexplained sense of “powerlessness.”
They eventually discovered what appeared to be the wreckage of an aircraft resembling “two washbasins placed face to face.” Some lights on the UFO were still flashing, though the craft was severely damaged. A doorway emitted thick, black smoke, and a “tentacle” was partially visible. The team left the site before nightfall, spotting five military helicopters heading toward the crash.
Suspecting a secret recovery operation, Ivanovich returned the next day with a small crew. As expected, the craft was gone, but the area showed fresh human footprints and signs of recent activity, indicating the site had been cleared within the last 24 hours.
Interestingly, the team took several photographs of the damaged craft, but none turned out. They speculated that increased radiation at the crash site caused the failure, which also explained the erratic behavior of their navigation equipment.
1. The Odessa Incident
Ukraine has recorded several notable UFO sightings and alleged alien encounters. One of the most intriguing occurred in Odessa in 1971. According to reports, a young woman named “Masha” traveled from Crimea to Odessa to explore the city’s catacombs.
During the tour, she suddenly heard a child crying and went to investigate. Realizing she had strayed from the group, she continued searching for the source. Suddenly, she felt a “kick” to her head and lost consciousness.
After several days of Masha’s disappearance, a large-scale search was launched in the town. She eventually reappeared at the catacombs’ entrance, where tourists found her and took her to the authorities. She was soon sent back to Crimea.
Upon returning home, Masha’s parents noticed a significant change in her behavior. She became withdrawn and distant. Strangely, it was discovered that she was pregnant, though she had no memory of how or when it happened. She decided to keep the child, a boy, who grew up to be noticeably different from other children his age. He displayed exceptional intelligence and showed little interest in typical childhood activities, preferring to read advanced books far beyond his years.
The most peculiar event occurred when, as a young man, he decided to visit the same catacombs his mother had explored two decades earlier. While touring with a group, he suddenly disappeared. No one could recall when they last saw him, and he was never found, leaving no trace behind.
