Chetvertoye Izmereniye - 1994 No 03

Magazine Overview

Title: Четвертое Измерение (Fourth Dimension)
Issue: № 3
Year: 1994
Publisher: Yaroslavl UFO Study Group
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Conference in Yaroslavl

This section details the Yaroslavl regional conference held on March 13, 1994, at the Yaroslavl planetarium. The conference was dedicated to the memory of F. Yu. Zigel, a pioneer of Russian ufology, and was titled "Looking into the Future." The event was organized by the Yaroslavl UFO Study Group, the editorial board of the newspaper "Fourth Dimension and UFO," the Yaroslavl City Scientific-Pedagogical Center (planetarium), and the scientific-production firm "OLNI."

Key Presentations and Discussions:

• Y. A. Smirnov, head of the Yaroslavl UFO Study Group, opened the conference with a tribute to F. Yu. Zigel.
• N. F. Kuleshov, an artist and theosophist, presented a lecture titled "Absolute, World Reason. Creative Forces of the Universe." He discussed the existence of a higher intelligence, past civilizations (Lemurian and Atlantean), and the concept of spiritual evolution for humanity's survival, emphasizing love and karma.
• G. V. Shuvaev, a retired lieutenant colonel and former lecturer, presented on "Fundamentals of Nucleonic Energy. Project GRAVITON," suggesting that UFO energy sources are related to atomic and nucleonic energy.
• L. P. Golubeva shared information about the work of folk healers from the International Association of Folk Healers "Phenomenon," including videos of new healers and a psychic contact with "World Reason."
• Y. A. Smirnov also presented on the "UFO Indicator," a device developed by the Yaroslavl group to detect UFOs at distances up to 160 kilometers.
• V. A. Baitulin, editor of the newspaper "Nevedomoye," spoke about the Indian spiritual figure Sathya Sai Baba.
• V. N. Kolozina discussed predictions of natural disasters, citing the January earthquake in Los Angeles as an example that had been previously predicted.
• Y. V. Kukushkin, a senior ufologist and associate professor, summarized the conference information and discussed methods of иглотерапия (acupuncture).

The conference was attended by guests and researchers from Nizhny Novgorod and other districts of the Yaroslavl region.

Subscription Announcement

An announcement calls for subscriptions to the monthly newspaper "Fourth Dimension and UFO" for the second half of 1994. The subscription cost is 3000 rubles, payable by postal order to Y. A. Smirnov, P. O. Box 235, Yaroslavl, 150052. Subscriptions are only accepted for residents of Russia, and telegraphic transfers are not permitted.

Mysteries of Mountain Peaks

This article, authored by Paul Stonehill, explores mysterious phenomena in Central America, particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Yucatan Peninsula:

• The author recounts a conversation with an indigenous guide who spoke of strange discoveries in the dense Yucatan jungles, including over a thousand abandoned settlements.
• The article mentions the "Maya astronaut" relief and enigmatic artifacts in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, such as a jaguar head resembling a diving helmet and miniature jade figurines of impish creatures known as "huameles."
• The guide reported a UFO sighting over Mexico City in 1969.

Puerto Rico and El Yunque:

• The author visited Puerto Rico a year prior to his Yucatan trip and notes that the island is a site of ufological interest.
• The mountainous region of El Yunque (meaning "Anvil") is considered a source of mysterious objects by locals.
• El Yunque is part of the Luquillo Experimental Tropical Forest, a unique ecosystem.
• Ancient Taíno people worshipped the mist-shrouded mountain.
• There's a hypothesis that the Maya knew of El Yunque and the island, possibly referring to it as the "Island of the Turtle's Back."
• El Yunque's proximity to the Bermuda Triangle is noted.
• While the forest is interesting by day, it has a bad reputation at night, with disappearances sometimes linked to underground UFO bases.
• The article mentions UFOs being filmed over Puerto Rico, including one incident captured by a tourist and another by a special camera from a skyscraper.

US Military Involvement and UFOs:

• Rumors circulate about "battles" between the US military and "los extraterrestres" (aliens) in Central America.
• A classified project (possibly related to the Strategic Defense Initiative - SDI) was allegedly tested against an alien base under El Yunque.
• Military helicopters were reportedly seen transporting massive, unknown armaments, possibly for nuclear warheads.
• The presence of helicopters in the tropical forest coincided with a decrease in UFO sightings.
• Scott Corrales, a UFO researcher, reported on the SDI program's connection to potential alien threats and the possibility of sharing technology with the USSR.
• The deep sea trenches near Puerto Rico have been used for naval aviation bombing practice.
• The "Milwaukee Deep" is suggested by some researchers as a location for a UFO base.
• Military jets have been observed pursuing UFOs, with one incident in January 1992 involving a bright red object crashing into swampy waters.
• In February 1992, cigar-shaped "mother ships" were reported, followed by increased US military activity in the area.

The article concludes that the mysteries of Puerto Rico's mountain peaks and Yucatan's abandoned settlements remain unsolved.

History of Ufology in the Yaroslavl Region

This article chronicles the development of ufology in the Yaroslavl region, focusing on the establishment and evolution of study groups.

Early Days and Formation of the Group (Pre-1981):

• Before October 1981, no formal groups existed in the Yaroslavl region dedicated to studying UFOs and anomalous phenomena. Interest was limited to individual enthusiasts and amateur astronomers.
• The Yaroslavl planetarium served as a hub for amateur astronomers interested in UFOs.
• A small group of amateur astronomers, including S. F. Maslenitsyn, A. M. Ognev, and the author (Y. A. Smirnov), met weekly at the planetarium to discuss UFOs and search for relevant information in the press.
• The author actively sought out like-minded individuals to form a cohesive group under the umbrella of the All-Union Astronomical-Geodetic Society (VAGO) at the planetarium.
• Vladimir Nikolaevich Lovtsov, working at the hydrometeorological station in Rybinsk, proposed formalizing ufological activities within the Yaroslavl VAGO.

Official Establishment of the Group (1981):

• On October 29, 1981, the Yaroslavl branch of VAGO officially established a group for the study of anomalous atmospheric phenomena (AAP).
• V. N. Lovtsov was appointed head, and Y. A. Smirnov became his deputy. Early members included A. Yu. Semenov, E. N. Kashtanov, S. I. Merkin, M. G. Gart, E. V. Budyukina, A. Khaikin, L. P. Semenova, A. M. Ognev, and Y. V. Kukushkin.
• The first ufologists' congress was held on November 29, 1981, addressing UFO information collection, analysis of active UFO periods, and membership cards.
• There was a debate about terminology, with some preferring the international term UFO (НЛО) over AAP.
• The group aimed to connect with the Gorky Scientific Research Radiophysical Institute (NIRFI) for collaborative research.

Internal Conflicts and Splits (1981-1982):

• Within two months, the group experienced a schism. A significant portion of members disagreed with the term AAP, favoring UFO. This was influenced by a letter from Moscow ufologist F. Yu. Zigel.
• The conflict intensified when the group learned of a reported UFO landing in the village of Borok, Yaroslavl region. The author's request for an expedition to investigate was denied by VAGO leadership, who cited the official scientific stance that UFOs do not exist.
• This led to a final split on March 23, 1982, with the deputy head (Smirnov) being removed from his position.
• The majority of members, disagreeing with VAGO's decision, decided to continue their work independently, while a minority remained with VAGO.

Reorganization and University Affiliation (Post-1982):

• The remaining VAGO group eventually ceased to exist.
• The majority, led by Smirnov, moved to the Yaroslavl University, where the group was strengthened both qualitatively and quantitatively.
• The group was renamed the UFO Study Group, and later the Anomalous Phenomena (AP) Study Group.
• New members joined, including researchers of parapsychology like V. A. Nartsissov, V. V. Koprov, A. N. Pyatkin, S. A. Ryabenko, V. D. Musinsky, and Yu. P. Kolotiev.
• Extensive work was done at the university to collect eyewitness accounts of UFOs and compile an archive.
• Articles were published in mass media to solicit reports.
• Regular meetings were held at the university, and research was conducted on classifying rare atmospheric phenomena.
• Members visited UFO landing sites and poltergeist locations.
• Over 500 articles were published in local and regional newspapers in 1983-1984, resulting in approximately 500 eyewitness reports.

Departure from the University and Underground Activities (1984-1992):

• In early 1984, the group was forced to leave the university, despite support from V. S. Troitsky, a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
• The group went "underground," meeting at the apartment of V. D. Musinsky until mid-1992.
• In June 1984, a UFO landed in Shchedrino, Yaroslavl region, and was detected by air defense systems, leading to contact.
• In August 1984, group members participated in an expedition to the Pamir-Alay mountains to search for the "Snowman" (Yeti), organized by the Leningrad Geographical Society.
• The group faced difficulties finding an official organization to sponsor them.

Challenges and Setbacks (1985):

• 1985 proved to be a difficult year. An article by E. Dubravny in "Zhurnalist" and another by V. Vostrukhin in "Trud" were critical of ufology, leading to increased pressure from authorities.
• Ufology was suppressed, and ufological groups were shut down. Media outlets were instructed to limit or prohibit publications about UFOs.
• Skeptics were given prominence in the central press, discouraging eyewitnesses.
• The ufology movement experienced a crisis. A UFO enthusiast group at the "Tekhnika Molodyozhi" magazine in Moscow was closed.

Continued Activities and Publications:

• Despite setbacks, the Yaroslavl group continued its work, establishing a post office box (№ 235) for receiving reports.
• The article mentions the group's involvement in studying anomalous phenomena and fantasy for schoolchildren.
• The group celebrated its third anniversary on October 29, 1984.

Later Developments:

• The group continued to operate, with members like A. N. Pyatkin and V. B. Nitovshchikov involved in field investigations.
• The magazine also includes a notice about the upcoming subscription for the second half of 1994.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, historical accounts of sightings, and the efforts of dedicated researchers. There's a strong emphasis on the scientific investigation of anomalous phenomena, even in the face of skepticism and official denial. The publication also touches upon related topics such as ancient civilizations, psychic abilities, and spiritual concepts, suggesting a broader interest in the unexplained and the potential for a hidden reality beyond conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a desire to document and share information about UFOs and related mysteries, while also acknowledging the challenges and controversies surrounding the field.