UFO enthusiasts are going wild.
A recently declassified document on the CIA’s website has sparked interest due to its bizarre contents, which detail an alleged alien encounter with Soviet military forces. The file summarizes reports originally published by Canadian Weekly World News and the Ukrainian newspaper Holos Ukrayiny. First released to the public in 2000, the document outlines claims that a UFO was shot down by Soviet troops, prompting a shocking counterattack from extraterrestrial beings.
According to the report, the unidentified flying object was observed hovering near a Soviet base during a military exercise in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Soldiers reportedly launched a surface-to-air missile, causing the craft to crash. From the wreckage, five beings with large heads and black eyes allegedly emerged. Eyewitness accounts suggest these creatures combined into a single object, emitted a strange buzzing sound, and released a blinding flash of light, which allegedly turned 23 soldiers into stone. Only two soldiers survived, supposedly because they were partially shielded from the light.
The document claims that the petrified remains of the soldiers, along with the wreckage of the craft, were sent to a research facility near Moscow. Scientists reportedly discovered that the molecular structure of the soldiers resembled limestone, leading to speculation that an unknown form of energy was responsible. While the document references a KGB file as its source, its authenticity and accuracy remain in question. A CIA spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
Skepticism surrounds the report, particularly from intelligence experts. Former CIA operative Mike Baker suggested that the sensational story may have been distorted over time through multiple retellings or translations. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the actual event — if one occurred — and how it is portrayed in viral reports. Baker also pointed out that while governments do investigate unidentified aerial phenomena, that doesn’t necessarily imply contact with extraterrestrials.
The U.S. government has recently increased its efforts to analyze unknown flying objects through the Department of Defense’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, launched in 2020. This initiative is focused on national security threats, not necessarily alien life. Additionally, former President Donald Trump signed an order to release longstanding government files related to UFOs, feeding public speculation about a potential cover-up. Despite this, experts like former U.K. defense official Nick Pope stress that while there’s strong public curiosity, concrete evidence of extraterrestrial involvement remains elusive.
