Chetvertoye Izmereniye - 1994 No 11

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Четвертое Измерение" (Fourth Dimension), a supplement to the newspaper "Заводская правда" from the Yaroslavl Tire Plant, is dedicated to the topic of UFOs and their connection to cosmonauts and space. The cover prominently features the headline "КОСМОНАВТЫ И НЛО" (Cosmonauts and UFOs) and the year "1994". The price is listed as "свободная" (free).

Cosmonauts and UFOs: The 'Salyut-6' Encounters

The main article details alleged encounters between Soviet cosmonauts and UFOs. The author, Paul Stonhill, begins by mentioning his early interest in UFOs and his connections with Soviet ufologists. He recounts an interview with cosmonaut Valery Kubasov in 1976, who stated that while UFOs exist, they might not enter Earth's atmosphere.

The article then focuses on events observed from the "Salyut-6" orbital station:

• August 15, 1978: Cosmonaut Vladimir Kovalyonok observed an object approaching and receding from the station.
• June 14-15, 1980: Cosmonauts Valery Ryumin and Leonid Popov reported seeing a swarm of white glowing dots launch from the Moscow region and head towards the station.
• May 14, 1981: This date is highlighted as particularly significant. Cosmonauts Savinykh and Kovalyonok reported attempting to contact another spacecraft 1 km away. They observed a spherical UFO with three beings inside, which approached within 100 meters, and later within 30 meters. The cosmonauts described the beings as approximately 2.10 meters tall with large, blue, 'Japanese-like' eyes and dark skin. They exchanged gestures and mathematical symbols, with the aliens reportedly showing a star map that included the Solar System. The cosmonauts attempted communication via Morse code and mathematical symbols, receiving a response in the form of a natural logarithm function.
• May 15, 1981: The beings reportedly exited their craft without spacesuits. The UFO then moved away. A film was allegedly shot of these events, shown to a select group of officials.

The author claims to have received confirmation of these events from Brazil, where a 45-minute film of the encounter reportedly surfaced. The article describes the beings' appearance in more detail, noting their calm demeanor and penetrating gazes. The cosmonauts requested permission for contact, but the Center reportedly only allowed 'instrumental-instrumental' contact.

The UFO's movements were described as erratic, sometimes disappearing and reappearing instantly, even seemingly vanishing behind the Earth. The beings were described as wearing suits similar to divers' suits. The article notes the absence of breathing apparatus for the aliens, drawing a parallel to previously reported sightings of giant 'swimmers'.

After four days, the UFO disappeared. The cosmonauts reportedly felt a strange nostalgia. Following the event, Soviet military and scientific officials met with the cosmonauts, reviewed the footage, and reportedly ordered them to remain silent. However, the article suggests that Kovalyonok was later allowed to speak openly about the encounter.

The article provides brief biographies of cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalyonok and Viktor Savinykh, highlighting their achievements and space missions. It also describes the "Salyut" series of orbital stations, detailing the technical specifications and capabilities of "Salyut-6".

The May 15, 1981 Event: UFO or Rocket Launch?

This section presents conflicting interpretations of a widely observed phenomenon on the night of May 14-15, 1981. Numerous witnesses across various regions of Russia (including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kalinin, Smolensk, Leningrad, Ivanovo, and Karelia) reported seeing a bright, frightening spectacle in the night sky, which some feared was the start of a third world war.

Many observers independently described a large luminous phenomenon in the northwestern sky, with an object moving from northwest to northeast. Analysis suggested this was likely a satellite launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region. TASS confirmed a launch of the meteorological satellite "Meteor-II" on May 15, 1981, providing orbital parameters.

However, many UFO researchers, including V. B. Vilinbakho of the Leningrad section for anomalous phenomena, initially believed the event was extraterrestrial. They pointed to details like the object's prolonged hovering, which did not fit the typical profile of a rocket launch. The scale and details observed simultaneously in distant cities like Petrozavodsk and Kuybyshev suggested immense size and altitude, far exceeding typical satellite orbits.

Several witness accounts are presented:

• S. A. Smirnov (St. Petersburg): Observed a round, reddish object, half the size of the moon, through cirrus clouds.
• Witnesses from various regions: Described a bright, multi-colored spectacle, including a 'dragon' shape and a dark square, with some believing it was a UFO.
• A. M. Ognev (Yaroslavl): Noted that many letters described the event, with some suggesting UFOs and others seeking scientific explanations. He contrasted the witness reports with the TASS announcement of the "Meteor-II" launch, questioning how such a large phenomenon could be explained by a routine launch.
• Leonid-Rinхард Иванович Нярья (Petrozavodsk): Described an object resembling a tadpole with a tail, emitting an orange 'cross' and ascending rapidly.
• A. D. Govorov (Leningrad): Reported seeing a fast-moving, cloud-like object with glowing 'illuminators' that changed trajectory sharply and appeared to be enveloped in smoke.
• Albert Chertovsky (Leningrad taxi driver): Described a bright 'star' within a horizontal cloud that emitted a large beam of light, illuminating houses and the landscape.

The article acknowledges that the phenomenon was likely a rocket launch, citing the separation of rocket stages and the formation of condensation trails at high altitudes, which could create spectacular visual effects. However, it also highlights the persistent belief among many that UFOs were involved.

UFO Kaleidoscope

This section features several brief witness accounts of UFO sightings:

• L. Madurova (Ulyanovsk region): Saw three strange 'stars' grow into large, red, flashing 'spaceships' that ascended rapidly.
• The Glukhov family (Ryazan): Observed small glowing objects that grew in size, formed a bright circle, and then one detached and approached the ground before disappearing.
• Unnamed witness (Yaroslavl): Described a spiral-shaped object with flaming ends and flashing lights, which descended and emitted three colored beams before ascending rapidly. The witness experienced an electrical shock and temporary hearing loss.
• Arman Karapetyan (Yerevan): Witnessed two yellowish-white, sparkling spherical objects, one of which fired a 'lightning' bolt at the other, causing it to split and disappear. The remaining object then fired a 'lightning' bolt at the other half, which also vanished before the original object ascended and disappeared.

Devil's Fire: Spontaneous Human Combustion

This article explores cases of spontaneous human combustion (SHC), presenting it as a mysterious phenomenon. It begins with the case of Jacqueline Fiksaimon in England in 1985, who reportedly burst into flames. The article notes the lack of external ignition sources and the peculiar nature of the burns, often leaving ashes and minimal damage to surroundings.

Historical cases are cited, including Grace Pett in England (1744) and Jean Milliet's wife in France (1725), where victims were reduced to ashes with little surrounding damage. The article mentions scientific investigations, such as by Sir David Brewster, who noted the absence of fire damage to nearby objects. Professor David Gee's experiment with a dummy made of human fat and skin is described, highlighting the high temperatures and long duration required to burn a body, contrasting with the rapid nature of SHC cases.

Other cases include Leon Ewei (France, 1971) whose car windows melted, indicating extreme heat. The article mentions cases where victims' clothing burned completely while undergarments remained intact, and skin peeled off the body. The case of Countess Cornelia Bandi (Verona) is described, with ashes and minimal remains found, along with greasy stains on the walls and a foul-smelling liquid dripping from the windowsill.

A unique case from Texas (1835) is mentioned where James Hamilton reportedly extinguished a small flame on his leg himself, suggesting that the fire requires air to burn.

The article concludes that the causes of "devil's fire" remain unclear, with no satisfactory hypotheses available.

From Mauser to Poltergeist: A Kyiv Incident

This section recounts an incident in Kyiv in the autumn of 1926, involving alleged poltergeist activity. A police inspector, Nezhdanov, was called to a house in the Saperka Slobodka district where objects were reportedly moving on their own. Upon arrival, he witnessed a crowd gathered outside. Inside, he observed a copper jug moving on a washstand and firewood shifting in the stove. The inspector, unable to explain the phenomena, brought the hostess's neighbor, a woman named Andriievska, to the police station. Her presence seemed to calm the activity. However, upon her return, the phenomena reportedly resumed. The inspector's actions, including firing a weapon at the wall and the arrest and transfer of Andriievska to the GPU (State Political Directorate), are presented as characteristic of the era's methods for dealing with unexplained events.

Religion and UFOs

This section critiques the religious interpretation of UFOs as demonic forces. The author, Yuri Smirnov, references an article by Z. Penkova in the religious newspaper "Yaroslavl Diocesan Gazette," which dismisses UFOs, poltergeists, and aliens as manifestations of demonic activity. Penkova argues that pre-revolutionary Russia, with its strong faith, was less susceptible to such phenomena, while modern Russia, with its spiritual emptiness, is more vulnerable.

Smirnov challenges this view, asserting that UFO phenomena predate organized religion and that ancient peoples likely deified these unexplained occurrences. He suggests that religious institutions promote the idea of UFOs as demonic to instill fear and drive people to church. He also argues that if the church officially acknowledged UFOs as real, it would necessitate fundamental reforms to its doctrines.

The author points out that belief in extraterrestrial beings is widespread, citing statistics from Germany and the US. He notes that UFO phenomena are described in ancient texts, including Egyptian papyri and Indian epics, and that Aristotle referred to them as "solar disks." He also mentions historical accounts from Alexander the Great's soldiers and medieval chronicles.

Smirnov questions the religious explanation by asking how Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, comparing depictions of the ascension in art to UFOs. He concludes by stating that the phenomena of UFOs and aliens are "demonic forces" according to religious doctrine, but implies that this is a convenient explanation for religious institutions.

Unresolved Mysteries

This section briefly touches upon the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and historical UFO incidents.

• It mentions that many people believe in extraterrestrial beings. Astronomers have attempted to contact them, such as Frank Drake in 1974 with a radio message from Arecibo, though a response would take 48,000 years.
• The complexity of finding extraterrestrial intelligence is discussed, including theories about parallel universes.
• Historical accounts of UFOs are mentioned, including sightings in the USA (1869-1879), Scandinavia (1946), and South America.
• The Roswell incident of July 2, 1947, is briefly described, mentioning a crashed object, debris with unknown hieroglyphs, and hints of small, non-human occupants. The official explanation of a weather balloon is questioned, with a later admission by a general suggesting the story was fabricated.
• The article notes the increased UFO activity in the 1940s and 1960s, and France's government program to study UFOs in the 1970s.
• A former US intelligence officer is cited as claiming that over 30 frozen bodies of UFO pilots are stored at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine "Четвертое Измерение" (Fourth Dimension) consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, with various aspects of human experience, including space exploration, historical accounts, and even religious beliefs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting witness testimonies and alleged evidence, while also critically examining official explanations and traditional interpretations. The magazine seems to favor a skeptical but open-minded approach, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional understanding. There is a clear interest in documenting eyewitness accounts and presenting them as potentially significant data, even when alternative explanations exist. The inclusion of religious critiques suggests a willingness to challenge established doctrines when they conflict with observed phenomena or logical reasoning. The magazine actively solicits reader contributions, indicating a community-driven approach to exploring these mysteries.