Koltso Velikogo Svecheniya - No 01 - 1991

Magazine Overview

This is the first issue of "Кольцо Великого Свечения" (Ring of Great Luminosity), an independent ufological newspaper, dated January 1991. The publication is presented as a continuation of a previous bulletin, "НЛО и другие космические явления" (UFOs and Other Cosmic Phenomena), but with a new name and editorial direction due to a dispute with one of the technical support firms.

Editorial Introduction

The editorial board, a group of Leningrad ufologists from the Commission of Planetology of the Geographical Society of the USSR Academy of Sciences, thanks readers for their letters. They explain that due to issues with the firm "Sovmarket," which registered the previous publication's name without their consent, they were forced to re-register their newspaper as "Кольцо Великого Свечения" (KVS) and restart numbering from issue one. They emphasize that future issues of "UFOs and Other Cosmic Phenomena" will have no affiliation with their commission.

The new name, "Ring of Great Luminosity," is explained as a term for a vast, self-developing cosmic entity, representing God, the Cosmos, the Absolute, or the Universe, which humanity knows little about. The newspaper aims to shed light on this unknown, covering topics such as UFOs, aliens, extraterrestrial civilizations, contact with cosmic intelligence, parallel worlds, and the structure of macro- and micro-worlds. It promises to feature foreign ufological classifications, modern research results, theoretical explanations, and analyses of reader letters, along with announcements of conferences.

The newspaper is planned to be published bi-monthly, with the possibility of additional issues and supplements. The editors wish readers "Light and Goodness."

Contents Overview

The issue highlights several articles and reports:

• "Spacecraft in 14th Century Frescoes" (page 2): Discusses historical accounts and visual evidence of UFO-like objects in medieval art.
• "Contact at Kopanskoye Lake" (page 4): A detailed personal account of an encounter with a UFO and non-human entities.
• "The 'Fairy Tale' of Lost Time" (page 8): A personal narrative about a strange temporal anomaly experienced in Leningrad.
• "Another 'M-Zone'" (page 9): Reports on an anomalous zone in the Moscow region.
• "UFOs and Other Unidentified Objects: What? Where? When?" (page 11): A review of UFO reports from the press.
• "Did Communists Reach the Gates of Hell?" (page 12): An unspecified article.

"Witnessed by Chronicles" (Page 2-3)

This section, authored by V. Golts, a member of the Commission of Planetology, presents historical observations of UFOs from various regions, including Europe, China, and Japan, dating back to the Middle Ages. Specific instances include:

• 1015, Japan: Two bright spherical phenomena appeared, possibly landing modules.
• 1034: A red, egg-shaped object flew over Europe.
• 1104, England: Fiery torches and luminous discs accompanied by a cigar-shaped mother ship.
• 1167, England: Two "stars" that merged and separated.
• 1239, England: A bright, star-like phenomenon that flew north.
• 1269, Krakow, Poland: A phenomenon resembling a luminous cross.
• 1271, Tatsunokushi, Japan: A bright disc appeared during an execution, causing panic.
• 1290, England: A silver disc moved over monks at Baylant Abbey.
• 1320, Durham, England: An object emitted light beams.
• 1322, England: A phenomenon released smaller objects, leading to an apparent aerial battle.

The section also references frescoes from the 1350s at the Visoki Dečani Monastery in Kosovo and Metohija, Yugoslavia, which depict figures in what appear to be spacecraft, resembling modern satellites. These frescoes, discovered by student Aleksandar Paunović, show figures that are interpreted as "angels" or "aliens" in aerodynamic craft.

"Attempt at a Scientific Approach to UFOs" by J. Allen Hynek (Page 6-7)

This article, translated and presented by G. Lisov, discusses the scientific community's often dismissive and aggressive stance towards UFO phenomena. J. Allen Hynek, a renowned scientist, argued that a truly advanced science should be open to new empirical facts and unusual explanations. He criticizes the prevalent negative attitude among scientists, suggesting it stems from an unwillingness to confront challenges to their established paradigms.

Hynek categorizes scientists into two groups: those who mock and dismiss UFOs, and those who, while acknowledging the phenomenon, attribute it to purely psychological causes. He argues that the aggressive reaction from some scientists indicates a subconscious challenge they are unprepared to meet.

He defines a UFO as an object or light phenomenon observed in the sky that cannot be logically explained by conventional means, even by trained experts. Hynek emphasizes that his own research has led him to disregard reports from individuals with known psychological issues, religious fanatics, or mystics. He focuses on reports that are global in nature, come from competent and credible witnesses, contain details that cannot be easily identified with known phenomena, and include elements that defy easy description.

"Contact at Kopanskoye Lake" (Page 4-5)

This is a detailed first-person account by Yuri Viktorovich M., who, along with two friends, went fishing near Kopanskoye Lake in February 1989. While gathering firewood, he encountered a strange object resembling a spacecraft with illuminated portholes. He then describes an encounter with three non-human entities, approximately 150 cm tall, who communicated telepathically. They offered him a chance to go with them, but he refused, and they warned him about atomic war. He experienced intense fear and later recalled seeing a large, ape-like figure above the trees.

Upon returning to his friends, he initially dismissed the event as a sighting of military experiments. The next morning, he recounted the experience, which his friends initially found unbelievable. He later reported the incident to the police and the Pulkovo Observatory, but received unhelpful responses.

In March 1989, he revisited the site with others and found evidence of unusual ground disturbances. The account also includes corroborating information from his mother, wife, and a friend, indicating that Yuri M. had no prior interest in UFOs and was not prone to fantasy.

"The 'Fairy Tale' of Lost Time" (Page 8)

This personal narrative by Svetlana M. describes a peculiar experience in Leningrad in June 1988. While walking with her son, she observed a strange phenomenon involving transparent, colored spheres forming a grid-like structure. Her son experienced stomach pain, while she felt a sense of temporal distortion, with clocks showing incorrect times and the sun appearing to set prematurely. They also noted an unusual "road" cleared for them amidst crowds and a lack of traffic on the street. Upon entering a cinema, they were told the show they intended to see had already been running for some time.

"Another 'M-Zone'" (Page 9-10)

This article by E. Mushnikova describes an anomalous zone near Moscow, referred to as the "Black Monk" zone. The author recounts a sighting by geologists Evgeny Fedorovich Tishin and his wife Lyudmila Innokentievna. They observed three red, pulsating lights, followed by a white light area, and later a small, white-green light moving erratically. The event concluded with a bright flash and a column of light descending from the sky. Upon investigation, they found circular indentations in the grass, one of which was approximately 5 meters in diameter and contained a cylindrical hole. The article notes the presence of similar phenomena in the area, which has been studied by researchers like F. Yu. Siegel.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine strongly advocates for a serious and open-minded investigation of UFO phenomena, challenging the skepticism and dismissal often encountered from the scientific community. It emphasizes the importance of credible witness testimony, historical accounts, and physical evidence. The editorial stance is one of curiosity and a desire to explore the unknown, aiming to provide readers with a platform for discussing and understanding UFOs and related mysteries from a more scientific and less prejudiced perspective. The publication also highlights the potential for anomalous zones and unexplained events to occur in various locations, including historical sites and seemingly ordinary areas.

This issue of "K BC" (Volume 12, Issue 11, dated April 26, 1990) focuses on reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena from various locations, primarily in Russia, with additional reports from Belarus and Uzbekistan. The magazine presents itself as a compilation of press reports and investigations into anomalous aerial phenomena.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

Arkhangelsk Region Reports

The Arkhangelsk regional section for anomalous phenomena has attempted to systematize UFO observations in the region and adjacent areas. They noted a significant increase in first-hand encounters in late 1989. These objects were typically described as spheres emitting yellow, orange, or red light, with multi-colored, including violet, rays. Less frequently, they resembled silver hats with antennas, hovering over one spot for extended periods.

A second-contact event occurred near Kharovsk, around Afonikha village, where a hovering object reportedly uprooted three large birch trees. The magazine also mentions the occurrence of a third-contact event in the region, involving observations of 'enlonauts' or beings from other worlds. Investigations are ongoing, including hypnotic regression to recover memory gaps and bio-location analysis of the incident site, along with an examination of photographic evidence.

Sightings in Penza, Ulyanovsk, and Mordovo

On April 5, 1990, residents of Penza, Ulyanovsk, and the village of Mordovo simultaneously observed a bluish-greenish шар moving from south to southeast. Several witnesses in Penza reported a UFO shaped like two superimposed saucers. This object, blinking with red light, flew silently towards the disappearing шар. It then abruptly changed direction, appearing to search for the шар, before vanishing. The article notes the interesting alignment of these observation points along a southwest-northeast line, questioning if this arrangement holds a clue to the phenomenon, especially since a similar шар was not reported in Tambov, which is only 100 kilometers from Mordovo.

Belarusian Observation

On April 11, 1990, residents of Rudnya village in the Mozyrsky district of Belarus witnessed two objects in the sky, described as large saucers. They flew slowly side-by-side, blinking lights. One object stopped and hovered for a long time before moving slightly forward and descending. The second object flew a bit further and also began to descend at a considerable distance from the observation point.

Tashkent Reports

On May 11 and 14, 1990, objects with шар-like forms appeared near Tashkent. One object periodically blinked with blue-white lights. Another was surrounded by a garland of red, white, and green lights, and was observed for six minutes above a television tower.

Historical Case and Personal Account

A photograph from June 1967 in San Jose, Spain, shows a UFO witnessed by over 50 people, as cited from the book "Beyond Earth: Encounters with UFOs" by Ralph and Judy Blum.

An account from Alena Kugach, a student from Kamyslov, Sverdlovsk Oblast, describes an unusual event in early 1990. On February 27, at 10:30 PM, her phone rang, but no one spoke. Her television then flickered, and she looked out the window to see everything sparkling. A luminous oval moved from north to south, stopped, and resembled a flying saucer with a descending beam. She observed it for several minutes before it disappeared. She believes it was a UFO.

Debunking the 'Hell Drilling' Story

Under the heading "Answering a Question: Have Communists Reached Hell's Gates?", the magazine addresses a story published in some Soviet newspapers in late 1990, originating from a Finnish newspaper. The story claimed Soviet drillers on the Kola Peninsula had discovered hell at a depth of 14.4 kilometers. The magazine refutes this, stating that no domestic well has reached 13 kilometers and that temperatures at such depths are around 200°C, not the 2000°F (1075.6°C) reported. The name 'Azzakov', the alleged Soviet geologist, is noted as being similar to 'Azazello', a character from Bulgakov's novel, implying the story is fictional. The article concludes that one can reach hell without the help of drillers.

Corrections and Announcements

An announcement corrects the address for the bulletin "UFO and Other Cosmic Phenomena" (Issue No. 1, page 8), providing a new postal code and address in Leningrad.

An appeal is made to enthusiasts to assist in translating rare works on cosmic philosophy from English. Interested individuals are asked to report the volume of text they can translate per month.

Editorial and Publication Information

The magazine is prepared by a Leningrad group of ufologists from the Commission on Planetology of the Geographical Society of the USSR, with the participation of MGP "Electronpoligrafservis". The Scientific Editor is I.F. Moiseenko. The publication details indicate it was signed for printing on January 20, 1991, with a circulation of 100,000 copies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the classification of UFO encounters (first, second, and third contact), and the investigation of these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFO reports, while also being critical of sensationalist or unsubstantiated claims, as demonstrated by the debunking of the 'hell drilling' story. There is an emphasis on collecting and disseminating information from various sources, including press reports and witness testimonies.