Soviet Cosmonaut Pavel Popovich

AE: "I can give this example. The letter was addressed to Pavel Popovich. Three days ago we posed a question to Popovich, and he said: let me go through this file, I want to understand, what is there, because he (Popovich-P.S.) did not see.

NAS: "In this case, it was, so to say, the enthusiasts of this field (ufology-P.S.), they are in the world, enthusiasts of this field, because a human being in its essence is such, he needs something that is always certain, that is why people have sorts of hobbies…"

AE: "How seriously can we take these here shots of the flying saucer?"

NAS: "Firstly, I know absolutely nothing about this. This is the first thing. I can only comment that in the Soviet Union during the period of, so to say, blooming of the rocket-space system industry here, every year more than 100 satellites of various types had been launched. We had that main spacecraft that is still with us, the piloted Soyuz craft, and its descending capsule. At the same time, our other organizations developed completely different systems, including (those for-P.S.) evacuation of the crew, and landings. These systems had been tested, and really they were in their essence, unique, these systems. It seems to me, one of the emergency breakdown situations connected to the experimental work to develop these systems, is depicted in this film. This is most likely. Usually, when there was an emergency breakdown situation, naturally, the site would be sealed off, and experts would arrive there. In principle, all these developments were conducted in the interests of the Ministry of Defense, interests of the Armed Forces. They were not the only developments; they were done in the interests of the Ministry of Defense.

AE: "And that, precisely, is what could have taken place?"

NAS: "Quite right. That very "Buran" (This was a Soviet attempt to create a space-shuttle like vehicle PS) that we created, the orbital craft, it was preceded by a bunch of experiments, connected with tests of various models and so on and so forth. That is, we had a massive volume of undertakings in that direction; various undertakings. Long-term orbital stations, like Mir, this currently international…All of this was preceded by military developments, they were completed these military developments, they were in use and so on"

AE: "If this here autopsy took place, would you be informed?" (Most likely TNT TV show The Secret KGB Files broadcast in the USA in l998).

NAS: "Of course, naturally...Such event, it just could have gone unnoticed, could not have. Why? Because the KGB, counterintelligence, it was concerned with all our military-industrial sites, that is why…such event, if it truly took place, of course the KGB would have been in the know. I have no doubts about that whatsoever. That is why here, whatever is taking place (in the film-P.S.), and I do not know what it is. Why? Because, in reality, experiments did take place…

And then, we had lots of programs for the study of the planets of the Solar system. If you look at all the apparatuses, which descend, be it on Mars, be it Venus, or our moonwalkers and so on. And there, imagine, how many experiments were conducted here on Earth to supply this or other Martian program, or a program connected with launch of our apparatuses to Venus? These apparatuses were of various shapes. Mostly, of course, they were spherical. Why? Because, for example, it lands on Venus with a parachute, naturally, the best is the spherical shape. As for the strategic weapons that we had created…Strategic weapons, before they are added to the armory, they (weapons-P.S.) go through a whole series of design experiments. When it flies, the missile, one part separates, the second part separates, the third…There are emergency landings, with breakdowns, and the missile has these discs, these parts…There can be anything, in fact…and in all the cases, you can imagine, you prepare for turning over for utilization some strategic complex. And suddenly, in the final stage, an emergency breakdown takes place. The chief, general designer, he has to understand the reason for this breakdown, that is why all fragments had were always collected. And always, special units were dispatched…"

AE: "Nikolay Alekseyevich, in 1991, with this file, at that moment, what was your position in the KGB?"

NAS: "From September '91 I was Deputy Chairman of KGB and remained at that position until June of '92. And, then left because of health reasons".

AE: "In your service, what did you oversee or control that is connected with what we now call UFO; what units and projects were under your control?"

NAS: "That subject of UFO appeared in mid '70s. I already mentioned...From mid-'70s there was a sharp increase, related to these unidentified flying objects. There was a resolution of the government and Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to conduct related projects to bring clarity to these phenomena that took place in the country. This resolution was made, and all law enforcement agencies-Ministry of defense, KGB, Ministry of Interior Affairs-were obliged to receive information from citizens regarding such events and send this information to the center.

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