Russia: First UFO Study Group Meeting

Event Overview On 18 October 1967, approximately 400 participants gathered for the initial assembly of the UFO Study Group affiliated with the All-Union Committee on Cosmonautics of the Russian DOSAAF. This marked a significant official step in Soviet UFO research during a period of heightened public interest in unexplained aerial phenomena.

Key Figures and Membership Retired Soviet Air Force Maj. Gen. Porfiri Stolyarov was elected as chairman, while astronomer Felix Ziegel accepted the role of deputy chairman. The group included prominent individuals such as science fiction author Alexander Kazantsev, engineer Arkady Tikhonov, one cosmonaut, 18 scientists, and around 200 trained observers positioned across the nation to collect sighting reports.

Context and Significance This formation represented the first officially sanctioned UFO research effort in the Soviet Union, responding to widespread sightings reported that year. The group's activities gained media attention, including television appearances encouraging public submissions, though it faced eventual dissolution by scientific authorities. Its establishment highlighted military and scientific engagement with UAP topics amid Cold War tensions.