Resume: UFOs Over Russia (From The Skeptic, 1990)

 Overview 

This article examines the wave of UFO sightings reported in the Soviet Union in 1989-1990, which were widely covered by the official news agency TASS and gained international attention. The author notes that while Russia has traditionally taken paranormal phenomena seriously, these reports gained prominence during the glasnost era. 
Key UFO Incidents 
Vologda Sightings (June 1989) 

     Schoolchildren reported seeing luminous spheres that landed in meadows
     One sphere reportedly released a "headless person in dark garb"
     A fiery object hovered over the city for 17 minutes
     An object three times larger than an aircraft flew silently over Cherepovetsk
     

Dalnegorsk Debris (July 1989) 

     A UFO reportedly dumped 60kg of unusual materials (gauzes, balls, glassy pieces)
     Materials had strange properties (resisted melting, changed conductivity with temperature)
     Some scientists suggested the materials were natural "plasmoids" rather than alien debris
     

Moscow Burnt Spot (July-August 1989) 

     A mysterious burnt spot appeared on a lawn near Moscow
     Initially speculated to be a UFO landing, later explained as a burning haystack
     Some people reported physical effects from the site (burning fingers, recharged batteries)
     

Voronezh Landing (September-October 1989) 

     The most famous Soviet UFO incident
     Witnesses reported a large ball landing in a park, releasing tall aliens with small heads
     One alien allegedly paralyzed a boy with a look, made him disappear with a "gun-like" device
     Scientists claimed to have found non-terrestrial rocks at the landing site (later proven false)
     The story received widespread international coverage, though credibility issues emerged
     

Media Coverage and International Reaction 

     TASS, the official Soviet news agency, was the primary source for many reports
     Western media picked up stories with enthusiasm
     Some Soviet newspapers like "Socialist Industry" and "Soviet Culture" also featured UFO stories
     The U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative was questioned in relation to potential UFO encounters
     Many reports lacked verification and contained inconsistencies
     

Conclusion 

The article suggests that while the Soviet Union has always had interest in paranormal phenomena, glasnost allowed these stories to reach international audiences. The author questions TASS's credibility, especially after a scientist involved in the Voronezh incident was quoted saying, "Don't believe all you hear from TASS." The UFO reports eventually faded from attention as quickly as they had emerged.