The Soviet Jellyfish UFO

On September 20, 1977, thousands of residents in Petrozavodsk, USSR witnessed a massive luminous object hovering over their city. The “jellyfish” UFO shot rays of light into buildings and became one of the Soviet Union’s most famous unexplained events.

The City

Petrozavodsk:

• Soviet Union (Russia)
• Capital of Karelia
• Near Finnish border
• Industrial city
• September 1977

The Time

September 20, 1977:

• Pre-dawn hours
• 4:00 AM approximately
• City awakening
• Many witnesses
• Perfect visibility

The Object

What appeared:

• Massive luminous body
• Jellyfish shape
• Brilliant light
• Rays extending down
• Hovering over city

The Rays

Distinctive feature:

• Light beams
• Directed at buildings
• Ground level
• Multiple rays
• Like rain of light

Witness Count

Mass observation:

• Thousands watched
• City population
• Workers, residents
• Diverse witnesses
• Consistent accounts

Soviet Response

Official reaction:

• TASS reported
• Newspapers covered
• Investigation launched
• Scientific teams sent
• Unusual openness

The Coverage

Unprecedented:

• Soviet media reported
• Before glasnost
• Unusual transparency
• International attention
• Historic case

Physical Effects

Reported aftermath:

• Glass holes?
• Building damage claimed
• Ground marks
• Disputed evidence
• Some documented

Duration

Extended sighting:

• 10-15 minutes
• Witnesses watched
• Photographs attempted
• Then departed
• Rose and left

Official Explanations

Suggested causes:

• Rocket launch
• Satellite reentry
• Military test
• None satisfactory
• Remains unknown

Problems with Explanations

Critics note:

• Hovering impossible
• Duration too long
• Shape inconsistent
• Rays unexplained
• Official story weak

Scientific Interest

Soviet Academy:

• Investigated
• No conclusion
• Files exist
• Still studied
• Ongoing mystery

International Attention

World reaction:

• Major news story
• Soviet UFO
• Cold War interest
• Significant event
• Historic case

Significance

Mass-witnessed Soviet UFO event covered by official media with physical effects claimed.

Legacy

The Petrozavodsk phenomenon demonstrated that UFO events occurred in the Soviet Union too—a case the communist government couldn’t ignore and openly reported to the world.