Quick Info
In the summer of 1990 in the small village of Sobolivka, Ukraine, two schoolgirls and a local family had a remarkable close encounter with a landed UFO and its occupants. The beings reportedly spoke Ukrainian through a translator device. The event left physical traces, radiation-like effects, and a buried object. One of the most detailed Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind from the late Soviet period.
The case was investigated by a local Zhytomyr UFO group led by Albert Mikhailov. Witnesses included schoolgirls Tanya Balashova and another girl, plus the Kovalsky family. Physical effects and traces were documented.
The Encounter Begins
One afternoon in 1990, two schoolgirls were playing near a stream on the outskirts of Sobolivka when they saw a red sphere descend from the sky. The object landed near the water. Soon after, humanoid beings emerged from the craft.
Contact with the Beings
The beings were described as small with large heads. One of them used a device that spoke clear Ukrainian. The girls and later the Kovalsky family who arrived at the scene reported the beings were peaceful but curious. They examined the children and asked questions through the translator device.
“We are children of another planet.”
- One of the beings (via translator device)
The beings reportedly showed interest in the children’s clothing and objects, one even took some walnuts from the pocket of one of the kids coats. After some time, they returned to the craft.
Physical Traces and After Effects
After the object departed, witnesses found a buried metallic object at the landing site. Some areas showed scorched grass and unusual soil changes. Several people who were close to the craft experienced headaches, nausea, skin irritation, and other symptoms similar to mild radiation exposure. Local investigators measured elevated radiation levels at the site.
The Investigation
A team from Zhytomyr led by Albert Mikhailov arrived and conducted a thorough investigation. They interviewed all witnesses, documented the landing site, and collected samples. The case was logged as a fourth-kind encounter in local ufology records.
Timeline of the Sobolivka Event
- Summer 1990 - Two schoolgirls witness a red sphere landing near a stream.
- During the encounter - Humanoids emerge and communicate using a translator device.
- Immediately after - Witnesses find a buried object and physical traces.
- Following days - Local UFO group investigates and documents the site.
Why This Case Is Notable
The Sobolivka encounter stands out due to multiple witnesses, direct communication with the beings, and documented physical effects. While it remains a single-event case from the late Soviet era, the consistency of the accounts and the local investigation give it credibility among researchers of Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind.
Great video on this event from @storieslost on YouTube
More videos from @storieslost on YouTube
What Do You Think?
After reading, and watching the great video above, about the Sobolivka encounter with its landed craft, communicating beings, and physical traces, what’s your reaction? Do you find the witness accounts and investigation credible, or do you think there might be another explanation? Would you have approached the beings if you were there? This 1990 Ukrainian case remains one of the more detailed Close Encounters from the Soviet era. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this case.
