Anatomiya Fenomenov - No 6 - 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: Анатомия феноменов (Anatomy of Phenomena)
Issue: № 6
Date: Июнь 2007 (June 2007)
Publisher: ИГ Уфологический Комитет - Космопоиск (Ufological Committee - Kosmopoisk)
Country: Belarus
Language: Russian

This issue of "Anatomy of Phenomena" marks the first anniversary of the magazine's publication, presenting a more extensive edition than previous ones. It covers the activities of the "Ufological Committee" over the past year, detailing numerous expeditions and investigations into paranormal phenomena across Belarus.

Investigations and Expeditions (2006-2007)

The magazine highlights the "Ufological Committee's" increased activity in field research, with a record 18 expeditions and reconnaissance trips conducted in Belarus during 2006. These expeditions covered all regions of the country, involving approximately 30 participants. Notable active researchers in 2006 included Ilya Butov (9 expeditions), Viktor Gaiduchik (7), Sergey Vorobyev (7), Elena Ilyukhina (7), and Dmitry Shimanovich (4). The "Ufological Committee" was recognized for its efforts, ranking second in the "Kosmopoisk" nomination for "Most Active Regional Group of the Year" and fourth for "Best Regional Group of the Year."

Key Expeditions and Cases:

• Lioy District UFO Sighting (July-August 2006): Residents of several villages in the Lioy district reported observing a strange aerial phenomenon. The "Ufological Committee" launched an investigation into this event, which involved a large, disc-shaped object with moving lights. Witnesses described it as semi-transparent, with its angular size estimated at 40 degrees. The object later displayed colored lights and a cone shape before rapidly ascending. Further observations by witnesses, including a 14-year-old girl, noted the object's movement and appearance, with attempts to photograph it using a mobile phone proving unsuccessful.
• Gomel Poltergeist (January 2007): The committee investigated a poltergeist case in Gomel, where unexplained phenomena were reported in a residential building. Initially, local law enforcement was involved, but the case was later attributed by residents to a mysterious "homeless man" who allegedly possessed hypnotic abilities. The phenomena included knocking, objects being thrown, and doors rattling. Despite investigations, no concrete evidence of a human perpetrator was found, leading to speculation about paranormal activity.
• Minsk Poltergeist (2002, resurfaced 2007): A case from 2002 involving a poltergeist in Minsk resurfaced with new activity. The phenomena included electrical disturbances, such as circuit breakers tripping and lights going out, as well as objects moving, doors opening, and even self-combustion of bedding and upholstery. The case involved a young girl, Valeria, and attempts to resolve the situation included psychological consultation and relocating the girl. The phenomena reportedly diminished but did not entirely cease. Later, money and jewelry began to disappear, even when the girl was in a different location.
• Orsha Reconnaissance Trip (May 2007): An expedition to the Orsha region explored local legends, particularly the story of a "golden church" that allegedly sank underground. The investigation focused on an archaeological site near the village of Cherkasovo, identified as a 6th-10th century settlement. While no "golden church" was found, the site yielded archaeological findings, including remnants of wooden structures and defensive ramparts. The legend is discussed in the context of historical conflicts and pagan traditions.
• Astronomical Bodies Mistaken for UFOs: The article "Astronomical Bodies and False UFOs" addresses the common misidentification of celestial objects as UFOs. It lists bright stars and planets, particularly Venus and Jupiter, as frequent sources of confusion. The planet Venus is described in detail, explaining its visibility patterns and how its appearance, especially during its brightest phases, can lead to misinterpretations. Examples are provided, including a sighting in Uruche (Minsk) and Mozyr, where the planet Venus was observed and initially reported as a UFO.

Other Articles and Sections

• News Feed (Expeditions): A chronological listing of expeditions conducted in 2006 (May-December) and 2007 (January-May), detailing locations and objectives, such as investigating anomalies, UFO sightings, and historical sites.
• Contact Information: Provides contact details for the "Ufological Committee" and its associates.
• Analysis of Glass: A brief mention of an analysis of glass fragments from the Gomel case, indicating signs of high temperature exposure.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on empirical investigation and data collection, as evidenced by the detailed expedition reports and witness testimonies. There is a clear effort to debunk misidentifications and provide rational explanations for phenomena, while also acknowledging the existence of unexplained events. The "Ufological Committee" appears to maintain a scientific approach, collaborating with researchers and analyzing evidence. The editorial stance promotes active field research and encourages public participation in their investigations. The recurring themes include UFO sightings, poltergeist activity, local legends, and the importance of distinguishing between genuine anomalies and misinterpretations.

This issue of "Pictograms" (ПИКТОГРАММЫ) focuses on the phenomenon of crop circles in Belarus, with the main cover headline being "Belarusian Crop Circles" (БЕЛОРУССКИЕ КРУГИ НА ПОЛЯХ). The issue number is 11. The content is primarily in Russian.

Article: Belarusian Crop Circles

The article details the first and, so far, only reliably documented case of crop circles in Belarus, which occurred in 2000 near Rossony in the Vitebsk region. Our correspondent, Dmitry Borodachenkov, received video footage of this formation. The crop circle consisted of a central 24-meter circle and three smaller 4-meter circles arranged in a triangle around it. The stalks within the circles were laid in opposing directions: clockwise in the smaller circles and counter-clockwise in the central one. Notably, the grain stalks in these circles appeared to be stripped of their grain, as if 'threshed'.

Despite extensive media coverage of the Rossony circles, the article notes that it is unknown if any detailed research has been conducted to determine their origin. The information available was primarily from newspaper publications and additional inquiries made by the publication's representative in Rossony, Anatoly Ermochenko.

The article also mentions that while there have been rumors of crop circles in Belarus in the past, most have not been confirmed upon investigation.

Article: New Data

This section discusses the ongoing scarcity of crop circle phenomena in Belarus since 2000, contrasting it with their abundance in neighboring countries. However, rumors of crop circles appearing in Belarus have surfaced periodically.

In August 2006, an expedition to the Logoisk district investigated rumors of crop circles near a UFO sighting location. The examination of the fields and interviews with residents yielded no positive results.

In May of the current year (likely 2007, given the context of the 2006 investigation), a trip was made to the village of Telmy near Brest to verify reports of crop circles from the previous summer. An inspection of the fields and interviews with local residents and employees of the "Brestsky" state farm, which manages the land, revealed that no one had ever heard of such an event. These rumors were also found to be false.

The article highlights that while a high-altitude video survey of the Rossony crop circles was conducted, it lacked significant detail as certain important aspects were not captured. Nevertheless, it is considered a valuable contribution to the understanding of this rare phenomenon in Belarus. The authors express gratitude to the operators of Vitebsk ANT for providing the materials and permission for online publication.

Article: Local Legends and Investigations (Implied from first page)

This section, written by Ilya BUTOV, debunks local legends and alleged UFO sightings in a village. The author investigated claims of a 'Bermuda Triangle' and a cemetery on a hill near a kurgan. He found that the 'Bermuda Triangle' story was based on hearsay and that a journalist had fabricated a UFO sighting based on third-hand information. The legend of a cemetery was also dismissed as a settlement.

Butov also investigated a legend about excavations near a settlement. He was told that a German expedition had attempted excavations but was interrupted by Russian advances. The author questions what German historians of the Third Reich might have been looking for there, possibly traces of the Goths, a question that remains unanswered.

Contacts and Organizations

Page 2 provides contact information for regional representatives across Belarus (Minsk, Brest, Baranovichi, Vitebsk, Viaz, Mogilev, Gomel, Orsha, Pelishche, Rossony, Yel'sk, Mozyr). It lists email addresses ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected]) and phone numbers for urgent communication. A website address (http://ufo-com.net) is provided for news, expedition details, theories, and a forum.

• Several affiliated organizations are listed:
• "Kosmopoisk": All-Russian scientific research association, including Ufocom. Contact details for Moscow are provided.
• Laboratory of Necton (Kosmopoisk): Contact Vlad Gushcha in Riga, Latvia.
• UFOLATS. Center for Research of Anomalies: Contact Evgeny Sidorov in Latvia.
• KPUFO. Club of Psychotronics and UFOs: Contact Lyubos Shafarzhik in the Czech Republic.
• "UFOS" (Ufological Society): Contact Boris Shurinov in Russia.
• MKA "DELPHIS": Contact Evgeny Khovansky in Belarus.
• Information Portal X-LIBRI: Contact Major Thomas.

Diggers of Brest

This section introduces the "Diggers of Brest" team, revived in 2006. Their focus is on developing methodologies for research in complex underground environments, including ancient structures, underground passages, and fortifications, as well as verifying related legends. Dmitry Borodachenkov is listed as the group leader.

Attention!

In 2005, Ufocom established a new research group called "Artefact." This group comprises individuals from various professions and will focus on complex expeditions in Belarus to search for mysterious Belarusian artifacts. Contact information is provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of critical investigation and debunking of sensationalized or unsubstantiated claims, particularly concerning local legends and alleged UFO/crop circle sightings in Belarus. While acknowledging the existence of phenomena like crop circles (as evidenced by the Rossony case), the publication emphasizes the need for rigorous research and verification. The inclusion of contact information for regional representatives and affiliated organizations suggests a network-based approach to ufological and paranormal research within Belarus and beyond. The magazine also shows an interest in historical mysteries and underground exploration, as indicated by the "Diggers of Brest" section.