On September 20, 1977, the skies over Petrozavodsk, a city in the former Soviet Union, became the stage for one of the most intriguing and well-documented UFO events in history. The incident, which came to be known as the Petrozavodsk phenomenon, captivated not only the local population but also scientists, government officials, and UFO enthusiasts worldwide.
The event began at approximately 4:00 AM local time. Viktor Zdornov, a mill worker on the night shift, stepped outside for a cigarette break when he noticed an unusual glow in the pre-dawn sky. At first, he thought it might be the moon, but as he watched, the light grew larger and brighter. Zdornov described what he saw:
“It was like a giant jellyfish, hanging there in the sky. The center was a deep, pulsing red, surrounded by a silver-white halo. From this halo, long tendrils of light reached down toward the ground. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
Zdornov wasn’t alone in his sighting. Within minutes, dozens of people across Petrozavodsk were witnessing the same phenomenon.