Vladimir Azhazha

Early Career and Naval Service

Vladimir Georgievich Azhazha was born on November 7, 1927, in Moscow and spent his early career as a Soviet naval officer. In 1966, he earned a degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences, establishing himself as a technically trained researcher within the Soviet scientific establishment. Unlike many UFO researchers who came from fringe backgrounds, Azhazha's credentials as a former navy officer and scientist gave him unique access to military records and credibility within formal institutions.

Transition to Ufology

Following his naval service, Azhazha transitioned into UFO research and became one of Russia's most prominent ufologists during the post-Cold War era. He founded the ufological school 'Basis,' which became an influential research organization within Soviet and later Russian UFO circles. He also served as the head of the ufological section of the International Academy of Informatization, further solidifying his position as a serious academic researcher rather than a fringe investigator.

SOYUZUFOTSENTR and Soviet Disclosure

Azhazha played a key role in the establishment and leadership of SOYUZUFOTSENTR, the first official public UFO organization sanctioned by the Soviet government, founded in 1990 as Cold War restrictions eased. This marked a significant shift in Soviet openness regarding UFO phenomena, moving from strict state secrecy to public research. Through this organization, Azhazha became the leading Russian voice in UFO research during the 1990s, when newly declassified documents became available to researchers.

Focus on Underwater UFOs and Soviet Navy Records

Azhazha's most distinctive contribution to UFO research was his specialization in underwater UFO encounters, known as USO (Unidentified Submerged Objects). He gained access to declassified Soviet Navy records compiled by a special navy task group headed by Admiral Nikolay Smirnov, which had been collecting reports of unexplained underwater incidents from submarines and military vessels since 1978. These records represented one of the most substantial government compilations of military UFO encounters ever disclosed publicly.

Based on his analysis of these declassified documents, Azhazha proposed that approximately 50% of all UFO encounters were connected to oceans, with an additional 15% associated with lakes and bodies of water. This statistical assessment emerged from examining decades of Soviet Navy observations, suggesting a strong correlation between UAP activity and aquatic environments.

Notable Cases

Among the cases Azhazha examined was a particularly striking incident involving a Soviet nuclear submarine on a combat patrol mission in the Southern Pacific. The submarine's sensors detected six unknown objects traveling in tight formation at speeds exceeding 230 knots (approximately 265+ mph)—far beyond the capabilities of contemporary conventional aircraft or vessels. The coordinated nature of the objects and their extraordinary velocity made the case one of the more compelling examples from the declassified Soviet records.

Legacy and Death

Azhazha continued his research and served as a public voice for Russian UFO investigation through the 1990s and 2000s, publishing works and presenting at international conferences. He passed away on September 11, 2018, in Moscow, at the age of 90. His contribution to UFO research remains significant as one of the few Soviet-trained scientists to legitimately engage with the field while maintaining academic credentials and access to government records.