RIAP bulletin - Vol 08 No 1-2 - January-June 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: RIAP BULLETIN
Issue: Volume 8, Number 1-2
Date: January-June 2002
Publisher: Research Institute on Anomalous Phenomena (RIAP)
Country: Ukraine
Language: English

This issue of the RIAP Bulletin delves into historical accounts of anomalous phenomena, with a primary focus on a significant wave of UFO sightings in Russia during the 1890s. It also features a biographical tribute to Yuriy Fomin, a notable figure in Soviet ufology, and an exploration of Charles Fort's enduring legacy.

A Thousand Years of Russian UFOs (Part II)

This extensive article by Mikhail B. Gershtein details historical UFO reports from Russia, primarily focusing on the "Aeronautical Period" of 1892. The period saw a surge in sightings of "mysterious balloons" and other aerial phenomena across Russia and Europe, generating considerable public and official interest.

The Wave of 1892

The article begins by describing the initial reports from the western border of Russia, noting strange globes, luminous or dark, appearing at night. Early reports were often dismissed as test flights by Russian aeronauts.

A key incident occurred on February 26, 1892, near Dabrowa, Poland, where an "enormous globe" or "balloon" was observed moving against the wind and later reappeared, illuminated and flying in the opposite direction. This maneuverability led observers to believe it was equipped with advanced aeronautic technology.

Reports also emerged from the fortress of Kovno, where a sentinel spotted a balloon rising from the Prussian border. Despite attempts to shoot it down, the object moved swiftly over the border. Conversely, German newspapers reported similar sightings, attributing them to Russian aeronauts.

On February 29, a balloon was seen over Gornicza, Dabrowa, illuminated by electric light and casting two perpendicular shafts of light. It hovered for about 40 minutes before moving. An official report in the Grodno Provincial Gazette on March 18 described a balloon appearing at sunset over the camp at Grodno, emitting strong electric light beams that changed location within the object.

Further sightings included a luminous body over the fortress of Dinamind near Riga on March 24, described as large and emitting light beams. On April 4, a similar "bright luminous object" appeared over Dinamind, increasing in size and resembling an inflated balloon, emitting intense light and hovering for about half an hour.

The article notes that reports of mysterious objects increased swiftly, appearing in newspapers across multiple provinces. The objects were not always spherical; one report from Vinnitsa described an "angular shape" object.

On March 26, a balloon was seen rushing over Pinsk. The following evening in Pinsk, a luminous body described as a "comet" moved north-west. On March 26, a luminous ball appeared over Vitebsk, flying west against a strong wind. The next day, it reappeared and circled the city. On March 29, a similar ball moved south, shining with red light and sometimes taking the shape of a comet with a tail.

Other reports include a "luminous point" seen near Vasilkov, which dimmed out and reappeared in different places. In Minsk, a luminous point described as larger than a comet emitted a bright light in two beams. Another report from Minsk described a ball flying at a high altitude, casting a fan-shaped shaft of bright electrical light.

Newspaper reports from Kiev mentioned a ball being seen. Over a seven-day period, balls or "luminaries" were observed at eight locations, covering a significant distance. These objects were described as large, emitting downward shafts of electrical light, and often having a conical or angular shape, moving fast at an altitude of about 1.5 versts.

Some observations were attributed to misidentifications of Venus, the brightest planet. However, many reports detailed specific characteristics that distinguished them from celestial bodies.

An Interlude (1893-1896)

Between 1893 and 1896, UFO sightings over Russia were less frequent but still notable. Reports include a "meteor" over Uglich resembling a star with a tail, a "fiery ball" over Helsingfors (Helsinki) with a bluish-green glow, and a "large light-red strip" over Novogrudka.

A particularly interesting event occurred on November 25, 1894, in Grodno province, where the firmament was covered with bright bluish-white light, followed by a peculiar thunderclap. Similar phenomena were observed later.

An explanation from the "Neue Dorpf. Zeitung" linked a bright light and thunder to an aerolite fall in the settlement of Rozhany, though the author questions this explanation.

In February 1896, a UFO appeared over St. Petersburg, described as a bright luminous object of golden color, shaped like the moon, which stretched horizontally and changed shape.

On April 7, 1896, a balloon was observed crossing the border between Russia and Persia near Ashkhabad, possibly an English balloon exploring Russian territory.

The wave of 1896-1897, which peaked in North America, also affected Russia, with reports emerging after the disappearance of Salomon Andrée and his companions, leading some to wonder if the objects seen were Andrée's balloon.

The Flap of 1899

A smaller "flap" of UFO reports occurred in 1899. On March 28, a strange object resembling a balloon flew over Arkhangelsk, described as having an unusual shape with an illuminated globe-shaped base and a tube-like extension. It moved slowly and emitted a reddish light.

Mass observations of enormous fiery bodies over Ukraine in November 1899 caused panic and expectations of the "end of the world," with scientists unable to provide explanations.

Reports from the Russian Far East in June 1899 described a blue ball moving northward and southward at a consistent altitude, observed by ship crew members. The lack of noise and color change were noted.

Yuriy Fomin: Some Biographical Notes

This section pays tribute to Yuriy Alexandrovich Fomin, a pioneer of ufological studies in the former USSR and a member of RIAP's Advisory Board. Vladimir Rubtsov, the contributor, recalls Fomin as an independent thinker whose views were often correct.

Fomin's memoir details his early life, his military service during the Great Patriotic War, and his subsequent career as an instructor at the Moscow Technological Institute of Food Industry. In the mid-1950s, he began giving lectures on space exploration, which became popular due to the secrecy surrounding technical data in the USSR. He often used foreign sources, some of which contained information considered secret.

In 1956, Fomin encountered reports of UFO observations in foreign journals and became deeply interested in the subject. He began collecting material and cautiously included UFO information in his lectures, framing it as reports from the foreign press.

His lectures were popular, leading to numerous invitations. He noted that some attendees, including pilots, rocket specialists, and military personnel, were UFO witnesses themselves but often requested anonymity.

Fomin's activities faced scrutiny after a critical interview with Academician L. A. Artsimovich in Pravda in January 1961, which accused Fomin of propagating "antiscientific nonsense." This led to a harsh condemnation by his institute's Party Bureau and a meeting with district Party authorities. Unexpectedly, the latter meeting resulted in participants finding Fomin's ideas worthy of attention.

Despite this, Fomin's membership in the Znaniye society was withdrawn, and he faced further criticism. When he declined to sign a letter of repentance for an article in Vechernyaya Moskva, a debunking article was published without his participation.

He was also summoned to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union regarding a lecture typescript distributed without his knowledge. He maintained his innocence regarding the additional material included.

Ultimately, Fomin left his institute in February 1961. Although public lectures became impossible, he continued his research, focusing on anomalous phenomena through the lens of multidimensional physics. He communicated with international ufologists and published his ideas after perestroika in books like "Anatomy of Miracles" and "Reality of the Incredible."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The RIAP Bulletin consistently focuses on the scientific investigation of anomalous phenomena, emphasizing the need for "normal proofs, exact references." The issue highlights the importance of historical research, as seen in the detailed examination of 19th-century UFO sightings, suggesting that understanding past events is crucial for contemporary study. The inclusion of Yuriy Fomin's story underscores the challenges faced by independent researchers, particularly within restrictive political environments, and the value of perseverance. The mention of Charles Fort indicates an interest in the foundational figures of paranormal and anomalous research, suggesting a broad and inclusive approach to the study of unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging rigorous investigation while remaining receptive to diverse theories and historical data.

The RIAP Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 1-2, published in 2002, features a prominent testimony of a strange encounter and an in-depth essay on the work of Charles Fort. The magazine is published by RIAP in Ukraine, with Vladimir V. Rubtsov serving as the editor.

Testimonies: A Strange Visit... With Possible Consequences

This section details the personal account of Valeriy A. Kukushkin from Yaroslavl, Russia, concerning an incident that occurred in late September or early October of 1979, between midnight and 2 a.m. Kukushkin, then 23 years old, was living with his parents. He describes waking up with an intense feeling of mortal danger. Upon cautiously opening his eyes, he observed his portable TV set, an Elektronika Ts-401, which had a non-functioning sound system. The TV appeared transformed into a "stone monolith of greenish-grey color" with a small, transparent cap jutting out from the screen, behind which a "dense and viscous" crimson-red light was visible.

Suddenly, a small being, approximately 30-35 cm tall in a squatting position (estimated full height 50-55 cm), appeared at his feet and sat on his belly. This being, described as a small human-like creature with minor proportional differences, extended its left hand, its fingers clinging to Kukushkin's chest. Kukushkin felt a strong aversion, comparing the sensation to being touched by a frog, and noted the prehensility of the being's fingers.

The being then attempted to communicate with Kukushkin using a series of sounds resembling Morse code, with its voice described as expressionless, low, and dry. The being's speech was incomprehensible, and its attempts to communicate verbally, accompanied by hand gestures, seemed to indicate irritation. When Kukushkin braced himself to push the being away, it rapidly moved towards his feet and vanished.

Upon regaining his composure, Kukushkin examined his room but found no trace of the being. He washed his arm, which had been touched by the creature, and returned to bed, falling asleep quickly. The next day, he discovered that his TV set's sound system was working normally again.

Kukushkin's attitude towards the incident evolved over time, from initial indifference to curiosity and analysis. He notes that he was unaware of humanoids as a subject of study in ufology until two months after his encounter, when he read a paper by Valeriy Sanarov. He also mentions developing unusual abilities, such as sensing presences and a form of telekinetic influence, though he acknowledges these may not be direct consequences of the encounter.

Kukushkin recounts visiting Dr. Felix Y. Zigel in Moscow, who advised him to contact Alexander Kuzovkin, a ufologist. Kuzovkin showed Kukushkin a typescript with pictures of similar beings, and shared a case where two small creatures visited a young man, massaged his heart area, and left him in a paralyzed state. The outcome for the young man was uncertain, with his survival after a complicated operation being a surprise.

Kukushkin concludes that the case remains largely incomprehensible to him, and he refrains from offering unsubstantiated hypotheses.

Essay: Charles Fort in the 21st Century

This essay by Yuriy N. Morozov discusses the enduring relevance of Charles Fort, author of "The Book of the Damned." Morozov argues that Fort was not merely a collector of ignored facts but a philosopher with a unique literary style. He defines Fort's philosophy as "ultra-relativism" or "ultra-conventionalism," emphasizing that nothing can be known with absolute certainty and that knowledge is relative. Fort's concept of "inclusionism" is presented as a new dominant that allows for the incorporation of facts rejected by science.

Morozov notes that Fort's explanations for "damned" facts were often provocative mind-games, sometimes presented with buffoonish humor and other times with exaggerated seriousness. Despite this, Fort outlined genuine problems and offered logical hypotheses, particularly regarding phenomena not easily explained by conventional science.

The essay highlights several of Fort's ideas that were ahead of their time:

• Cosmic Origin of Life: Fort suggested that terrestrial life has a cosmic origin and its evolution has been influenced by external, possibly intelligent, forces.
• Selective Contact: He proposed that extraterrestrial beings only contact chosen individuals or secret societies, not humankind as a whole.
• "Dirigible Worlds": Fort spoke of planetary-sized "dirigible worlds" or artificial constructions, a concept Morozov links to modern ideas of astroengineering.

Morozov considers Charles Fort the "first ufologist in world history," who interpreted UFOs as extraterrestrial transport and suggested the possibility of alien abductions ("fishing"). He also names Fort as a founder of "paleovisitology," citing his work on archaeological and geological finds as evidence of ancient extraterrestrial visitations.

The essay concludes that many of the problems raised by Charles Fort remain unsolved, and his work continues to provoke thought in the 21st century.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the nature of unexplained phenomena, personal testimonies of encounters with the unknown, and the philosophical implications of such events. The essay on Charles Fort positions him as a foundational figure in the study of anomalies and extraterrestrial phenomena, advocating for an open-minded approach to evidence that challenges conventional scientific paradigms. The editorial stance, as represented by the content, appears to be one of serious inquiry into anomalous phenomena, encouraging detailed reporting and thoughtful analysis, while acknowledging the profound mysteries that remain.