SETKA: Soviet UFO Research Program Launched
Around 1978, the Soviet Union launched SETKA, a classified dual-structure UFO research program combining military and civilian scientific components. The program was directed by Colonel Boris Sokolow, who headed a dedicated department within the Soviet Ministry of Defense focused on foreign technology assessment.
SETKA operated under joint oversight of the Ministry of Defense, the Academy of Sciences, and Soviet intelligence services. UFO cases reported from military installations across the USSR were evaluated under strict secrecy and escalated to the highest command levels. Researchers compiled a reference table of approximately 50 documented UFO shapes — ranging from ellipses to spheres to craft resembling spacecraft — which was used to help military witnesses identify observed objects.
The program documented recurring UFO appearances near strategically significant objects such as missile complexes and scientific test facilities. In the early 1980s, experiments with geodetic instruments and radar stations were conducted at Soviet direction, attempting to track and measure the objects. In at least one case, a rangefinder locked onto an object — which promptly vanished and reappeared elsewhere.
The existence of SETKA was first publicly confirmed by Sokolow in a 1993 interview with investigative journalist George Knapp in Moscow, after the Soviet collapse allowed brief access to former officials.
Background
In 1978, the Soviet Union launched SETKA (Сетка, "Network"), a classified dual-track research program to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena. This program was initiated after a series of high-profile UAP incidents at Soviet military installations and nuclear facilities, representing one of the most comprehensive state-level UAP research efforts during the Cold War.
Program Launch
The Soviet Union established SETKA in 1978 as a secret initiative. It operated on two parallel tracks for comprehensive study of UAP.
At its peak, SETKA involved dozens of research institutes and military units across the USSR.
SETKA-AN
SETKA-AN functioned under the Soviet Academy of Sciences for civilian scientific research. It focused on the scientific analysis of unidentified aerial phenomena.
SETKA-MO
SETKA-MO was managed by the Ministry of Defence for military intelligence gathering. It addressed security implications from UAP incidents at military sites.
Duration and Legacy
The program ran until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, continuing in various forms. Elements were reportedly carried forward by the Russian military.