Voronezh UFO Landing
On September 27, 1989, multiple witnesses in Voronezh, Russia reported a UFO landing in a city park. Giant beings reportedly emerged and were seen by schoolchildren and adults. Soviet news agency TASS reported the incident seriously. Physical traces were found at the site. The case remains one of Russia's most famous.
The Voronezh incident shocked the world when the official Soviet news agency TASS reported it as fact. In September 1989, witnesses in this Russian city reported a UFO landing, giant beings emerging, and strange encounters in a public park. The official Soviet treatment of the case - at the height of glasnost - marked a new era in government UFO disclosure.
September 27, 1989
The incident occurred in South Park (Yuzhny Park) in the city of Voronezh:
Time: Early evening, around 6:30 PM.
Location: A public park where children often played.
Initial Witnesses: Children playing soccer noticed the object first.
Adult Witnesses: Adults in the area also observed the events.
What They Reported
The witnesses described an extraordinary sequence:
The Object: A large, reddish or pink spherical object descended and hovered near the park.
The Landing: The object landed in the park, leaving ground traces.
The Beings: Large beings - described as approximately 9 feet tall - emerged from the craft.
Physical Features: The beings had small heads, three eyes, and wore silvery suits.
A Robot: Some witnesses reported a robot or robotic creature accompanying the beings.
The “Ray” Incident
One particularly dramatic claim:
The Boy: A witness claimed that when a boy cried out, one of the beings pointed a device at him.
The Effect: The boy reportedly became paralyzed or invisible.
The Return: After the beings departed, the boy returned to normal.
This element has been both reported and disputed in various accounts.
Physical Evidence
Investigators found traces at the site:
Ground Depression: A depression in the grass where the object allegedly landed.
Unusual Soil: Analysis claimed to find unusual properties in the soil.
Rock Samples: Rocks near the landing site showed anomalies according to some reports.
Radiation: Some sources reported elevated radiation levels.
The TASS Report
What made Voronezh unique was official Soviet reporting:
TASS Coverage: The official Soviet news agency TASS reported the incident as a news story.
Soviet Scientists: Soviet scientists were quoted as investigating.
International Shock: The serious treatment by Soviet media stunned Western observers.
Glasnost Context: The incident occurred during the glasnost (openness) era under Gorbachev.
International Reaction
The world took notice:
Western Media: Major Western outlets covered the Soviet UFO report.
Skepticism: Many Western observers wondered if this was disinformation or propaganda.
Fascination: Others saw it as evidence that the Soviets were taking UFOs seriously.
Cold War Lens: The incident was interpreted through Cold War assumptions by many.
The Witnesses
The primary witnesses were children:
School Children: Multiple children reported seeing the craft and beings.
Consistency: Their accounts showed significant consistency.
Psychological Evaluation: Soviet researchers interviewed and evaluated the children.
Adult Corroboration: Some adults in the area also reported seeing the object, though with less detail about the beings.
Soviet Investigation
Soviet authorities investigated:
Scientists: Scientists from Voronezh State University examined the site.
Military: Some reports suggest military interest.
Documentation: The incident was documented in Soviet records.
Analysis: Soil and environmental samples were analyzed.
Skeptical Views
Critics raised concerns:
Children as Witnesses: Young children may be unreliable or suggestible.
Media Influence: Did TASS coverage influence subsequent witness accounts?
Glasnost Politics: Was the story serving some political purpose during glasnost?
Inconsistencies: Some details varied between accounts.
Hoax Possibility: Could children or others have fabricated the story?
Cultural Context
The incident occurred at a significant moment:
Glasnost: The new Soviet openness allowed topics previously suppressed.
UFO Interest: Soviet citizens were newly able to discuss UFO sightings openly.
Media Freedom: TASS reporting on UFOs would have been impossible a few years earlier.
Public Hunger: There was enormous public appetite for previously forbidden topics.
The Giant Beings
The reported beings were unusual:
Size: Approximately 9 feet tall - much larger than typical “grey” descriptions.
Three Eyes: Multiple witnesses described three eyes.
Appearance: Somewhat humanoid but clearly not human.
Behavior: They emerged, observed, then departed.
These descriptions don’t match typical Western alien reports.
Legacy
The Voronezh incident matters because:
- Official Soviet news agency reported it seriously
- Multiple witnesses including children and adults
- Physical traces were documented
- It occurred during a unique historical moment
- It suggested Soviet openness about UFOs
Questions Remain
What happened in Voronezh?
- A genuine extraterrestrial landing?
- Mass hysteria among impressionable children?
- A deliberate Soviet propaganda exercise?
- Misinterpretation of a conventional event?
- Something else entirely?
The truth of what descended on a Russian park in 1989 remains uncertain.
Sources
- TASS news agency reports
- Soviet scientific investigation documents
- Witness testimonies
- Western news coverage