CIA Information Report: Conversations with Soviet Scientists on UFOs in the USSR, 1967

Source file: CIA-UAP-010_REPORT_ON_CONVERSATIONS_WITH_SOVIET_SCIENTISTS_ON_SUBJECT_OF_UNIDENTIFIED_FLYING_OBJECTS_IS_THE_USSR.pdf Originating agency: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Operations (Domestic Collection Division) Report number: OO-B-321/23490-67 Classification: CONFIDENTIAL (Approved for Release 2026) Date of Information (DOI): May 1967 Place and Date Acquired: USSR, May 1967 Date Distributed: 18 August 1967 Page count: 2 (all read) VIRIN: 260508-O-D0360-1087 PURSUE Release: 3

Summary

This is a declassified CIA CONFIDENTIAL information report, number OO-B-321/23490-67, based on a memorandum written by a US citizen — an astrophysicist on the staff of a large research institute — for his superiors, following a one-month trip through the USSR in spring 1967. The trip's stated purpose was to visit several astronomical observatories whose staff members were engaged in planetary research. The report was developed by an Air Force (AFNIN) representative assigned to the office of preparation. It is explicitly marked "THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION."

The source visited: V.I. Moroz at the Sternberg Institute, Moscow; an unnamed astronomer at the Pulkovo Observatory in Leningrad; I.K. Koval and colleagues at the Main Astronomical Observatory in Kiev; L.I. Galkin at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory; G.S. Lifschitz and G.M. Idlis at the Astrophysical Institute in Alma Ata; and Dr. [FNU] Kupo, a stellar spectroscopist. The report's most notable finding is that N.A. Kozyrev personally believed UFOs might originate from Venus, and that Soviet astronomers — free of the "official ridicule" associated with UFOs in the United States — might be more receptive to taking the phenomenon seriously.

The document is marked "NO DISSEM ABROAD."

Research Article

Background and source

In spring 1967, a US astrophysicist undertook a one-month visit to the USSR, calling on several astronomical observatories whose staffs were active in planetary research. The CIA interest in this trip was evidently the opportunity to gauge Soviet scientific thinking on UFOs — a topic considered sensitive and taboo in official American scientific circles at the time. The source wrote a memorandum for his superiors; the information was extracted from that memorandum and developed into this report by an Air Force (AFNIN) representative assigned to the CIA's office of preparation.

Inquiries about Soviet observations and interpretations of UFOs were, according to the report, "a minor aspect of the trip." Within those limits, the source attempted to assess Soviet scientific thinking on the topic.

Sternberg Institute, Moscow: V.I. Moroz

The source visited V.I. Moroz at the Sternberg Institute in Moscow. Moroz was "noncommittal on the subject of UFOs." The scientist who served as translator — a radio astronomer — "emphatically stated that he knew of no sightings of UFO's in the USSR and added with a laugh that if they were only seen in the US, they must be of Soviet origin."

Pulkovo Observatory, Leningrad

At the Pulkovo Observatory in Leningrad, "one of the astronomers mentioned that she had heard of some sightings of unidentified objects near the Caucasus." She was unaware of any study being made of them but "was open-minded on the subject."

Main Astronomical Observatory, Kiev: I.K. Koval

At the Main Astronomical Observatory in Kiev, "little interest is shown in the UFO question." I.K. Koval mentioned that he and several other astronomers had been in the countryside one evening and had seen "a curious, reddish object flashing through the sky that they were convinced was neither a satellite nor a meteorite." Their immediate interpretation was that "this object might have been a fragment of a satellite or rocket returning from orbit, burning up in the atmosphere." Koval believed UFOs had been seen in the USSR but could not be specific as to locations or characteristics.

Crimean Astrophysical Observatory: L.I. Galkin

At the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, again little interest was shown. One astronomer, L.I. Galkin, "was with the group mentioned by Koval and confirmed the observation of a peculiar object." He did not discuss the experience in detail "but clearly had been struck by the possibility that the object might have been a 'saucer.'"

Astrophysical Institute, Alma Ata: Lifschitz and Idlis

At the Astrophysical Institute in Alma Ata, "there was considerable interest." The institute included an Atmospheric Optics Section headed by G.S. Lifschitz. The initial discussion was with the director, G.M. Idlis, who had read Menzel's book on UFOs and "considered it an adequate treatment of the subject which he consequently felt was closed." He stated no observations had been made by his staff and no reports received. However, "when the US scientist proceeded to indicate the results of McDonald's critical study of the problem, Idlis readily conceded that there might be more to it and concluded by stating that it was 'clearly still an open question.'"

Separately, another astronomer mentioned that "in the northern part of Kazakhstan there had been repeated sightings of ball lightning." The University in Alma Ata had sent a team to investigate and found that what was being seen were "reflections of automobile headlights from an inversion layer."

A later discussion was held with Lifschitz, who "was not very impressed with Menzel's book, but was also not impressed with the significance of the phenomenon." However, it was felt "that some interest was kindled that might lead to additional investigations."

N.A. Kozyrev: The most significant contact

The source's main visit was to N.A. Kozyrev, described as "very interested in the problem." Kozyrev had read Menzel's book (translated into Russian) but did not accept his conclusions. "Kozyrev knew of some sightings in the northern part of the USSR, but said that reports of such sightings are not printed in Soviet newspapers because they are not regarded as scientific observations."

The report comments: this is "interesting in view of the readiness of Soviet newspapers to print rather fantastic reports of hypotheses and 'observations' suggested by the more imaginative members of the scientific community. Apparently some official sanction is needed."

Kozyrev "readily accepts [US reports of UFOs'] reality. In fact, it is his personal opinion that the UFO's may originate on Venus." The report adds a field comment: "Kozyrev is a controversial figure in the Soviet scientific community as well as internationally. Apparently one of his questionable observations (the activity of the central peak in the lunar crater Alphonsus) has turned out to be correct."

Dr. [FNU] Kupo: stellar spectroscopist

Dr. [FNU] Kupo, a stellar spectroscopist, "was also interested in this problem, partly as an adjunct to her attempts to locate fragments from bolides." She "was also dissatisfied with Menzel's book and felt that there was definitely an opportunity for additional research."

General assessment

The report's concluding paragraph provides a broader analysis: "The general feeling one gets is that no official treatment of the UFO problem has been given in the USSR. Instead people refer to the US work, principally Menzel's book, to demonstrate the absence of real scientific problems. At the same time, there is an almost universal awareness of the history and characteristics of the phenomenon often associated with considerable interest. The result is that a demonstration of the inadequacy of US Official explanations coupled with some proof of the reality of the observations might excite enthusiasm more rapidly among Soviet astronomers than among their US counterparts who are more strongly influenced by the official ridicule associated with UFO's in the US."

This assessment captures a key dynamic of Cold War-era UFO research: Soviet scientists were arguably less institutionally constrained to dismiss the phenomenon than their American peers, even if Soviet official publications suppressed the topic.

Key People

Locations

Incidents

Notable Quotes

"Kozyrev knew of some sightings in the northern part of the USSR, but said that reports of such sightings are not printed in Soviet newspapers because they are not regarded as scientific observations." — page 1

"In fact, it is his personal opinion that the UFO's may originate on Venus." — page 1 (re: Kozyrev)

"...it was 'clearly still an open question.'" — page 2 (Idlis, after McDonald study cited)

"The general feeling one gets is that no official treatment of the UFO problem has been given in the USSR. Instead people refer to the US work, principally Menzel's book, to demonstrate the absence of real scientific problems." — page 2

"...a demonstration of the inadequacy of US Official explanations coupled with some proof of the reality of the observations might excite enthusiasm more rapidly among Soviet astronomers than among their US counterparts who are more strongly influenced by the official ridicule associated with UFO's in the US." — page 2