August 28, 1991, at 04:42 (local time). The tracking radar station on Mangyshlak peninsula flashed on the screens a very large object which appeared from no where almost in centre of screens. The screens showed an object with a length of 600 meters and diameter about 110 meters.
The object moved to the northwest of the radar station, above the Caspian Sea, from west on east at a level of 6600 meters at even cruise speed of 960 kms/hours. It did not answer on IFF (Identification - Friend or Foe) requests . Experienced operators have suspected immediately that they were dealing with an unidentified radar target, i.e. probably a UFO.
After four minutes, at 04:46, all of them called the cosmodrome (spaceport) at Kapustin Yar and asked whether an unscheduled special launch of something was made there. From Kapustin Yar at once came the answer: "No, but our radar, too, observes this object."
As it is necessary this information was sent immediately to Caspian Staff of antiaircraft zone and to the mystery object there were directed two MIG-29 fighters which were on a patrol flight to the south of Shevchenko town and another two patrol MIGs was sent from aerodrome K.
The battle task was put to the pilots: to identify the object and, if it is obviously technology under intelligent control - to make it land at the spare aerodrome in K.; and in case of disobedience, to open fire on it and to destroy it. They settled on a point of interception over the western coast of the Aral Sea.
The interception occurred at exactly calculated time, 05:12. The pilots observed the object visually and on screens of radars. A new series of identification "Friend or Foe" requests were issued, and a command to fall in and to go behind a leading fighter was given. The object did not react in any way to either.
It looked like a huge dirigible balloon without any outstanding details, dimly shining in the sunlight. The surface, not covered by the sun, looked like grey stainless steel. In a top part on each side of the object two round "portholes" were set at diameter of 1/6 height of the object
The object did not undertake of any hostile actions. A group commander requested a staff meeting and suggested that the two fighters on each side of the object move as it is possible closer to give precautionary shots from guns parallel to its course to try to begin to make it to go down. The plan was approved and at 05:14 the fighter crews carried out this manoeuvre going to the object at 800 meters from two sides. From such distance both pilots had time to sight some green symbols in a tail part of the vessel.
Interceptions operations of the "Dirigible" was finished very quickly. All fighters experienced failure of complete fire control panel at attempt to open shoot, whilst approach to the object at distance of 600-500 meters the engines' faults begun, all devices have begun stricken. The object itself, making a few short zigzag manoeuvres in horizon and vertical, begun rush moving to increase speed up to 32, then 54 and 6800 kms/ hours for 2-3 minutes. The data of radar definitions of several stations of tracking (Baikonur, Alma-Ata, Bishkek etc.) coincide.
The chasing was stopped since the object continued to go in a general direction of east with small decrease to height of 4500 meters, through the airzone of Alma-Ata town. The dispatchers transferred a warning to all civilian aviation and Air Force authorities about danger of collision with a huge UFO but no collision occurred.
At 05:27 the object has disappeared from a view of all radars' sight at height 4400 in area of Isyk-Kul lake.
* http://www.rense.com/ufo/russianros.htm
* Illobrand von Ludwiger, Ufos die unerwünschte Wahrheit: Alarmierte Militärs, uninteressierte Wissenschaftler und die andere Wirklichkeit der fremden Besucher, Kopp Verlag 2008
* W. Hamilton, N. Subbotin und A. Kutovoy: UFO Magazine, Vol. 14, Nr. 4, 1999, S. 32-41