Investigative Journalist George Knapp Unveils Classified Soviet UFO Archives Detailing Cold War Encounters

On January 16, 2026, veteran investigative journalist George Knapp made public a significant collection of translated Soviet and Russian documents concerning Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Knapp, who reached the age of 73 at the time of this release, originally acquired these sensitive files in 1993 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The widespread media coverage of these documents in early February 2026 has fundamentally challenged decades of official assertions that neither the USSR nor the Russian Federation maintained such research initiatives.

The newly accessible records provide an in-depth look at several clandestine Soviet operations. These include the following programs:

• Set-AN, which commenced in 1979
• Galaktika-MD, which was operational between 1981 and 1985
• Pluton-7, spanning the years 1989 to 1990
• Nit 3, an ongoing program mentioned in the files

A 1993 report within the archive notes that the frequency of UFO sightings and interactions grew substantially following the year 1978. Jeremy Corbell, Knapp’s podcast collaborator, emphasized that this data underscores the rigorous and serious manner in which the Russian state approached the UFO phenomenon, treating it as a matter of national importance rather than mere curiosity.

Among the most striking accounts is the Nalchik Anomaly, which occurred on February 13, 1989. During this event, hundreds of individuals, including military personnel and airport staff, witnessed a jellyfish-like craft measuring approximately 450 feet in diameter hovering at an altitude of 300 feet. Another detailed case involves Anatoly Malyshev in July 1975. Malyshev, then an 18-year-old, claimed to have been taken aboard an unknown vessel; despite his modest intellectual background, the lead investigator on the case concluded that the young man's testimony was entirely sincere and credible.

The archives also document the Derzavinsk encounter of June 1979, where witnesses reported coming into contact with exceptionally tall, dark-clothed entities. While the Petrozavodsk phenomenon of September 1977 is referenced—an event that received significant attention from Soviet media at the time—the primary focus of the recent disclosure remains the 1989 Nalchik incident. These records provide a granular look at events that were previously shrouded in state secrecy or dismissed as atmospheric anomalies by the authorities.

A central point of interest for American intelligence agencies is the Nit 3 program, which is believed to remain active to this day. Experts suggest this initiative may be specifically focused on the reverse-engineering or study of extraterrestrial technologies. By sharing these declassified insights with the United States Congress, Knapp has provided concrete evidence that the Soviet Union conducted sophisticated, multi-tiered investigations into UFOs while simultaneously maintaining a public stance of total denial regarding the existence of such phenomena.