According to a new article Unidentified Aerial Phenomena I. Observations of Events published by the Main Astronomical Observatory of Kyiv, together with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, weather stations in Kyiv and a village south of the capital called Vynarivka, recorded UFOs, which researchers call “phantoms”, “object [that] is a completely black body that does not emit and absorbs all the radiation falling on it.” Researchers also point out that the UFOs they see are so fast that they are difficult to photograph, according to a publication by Ukrainian astronomers, reported by Vice.

The introduction to the study states that the Pentagon became interested in UFOs and created the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). AARO’s mission is to coordinate the efforts of the Department of Defense and other US federal departments and agencies to detect, identify, and attribute airspace objects of military interest that pose threats to flight safety and national security. This applies to unidentified anomalous, aerial, space, underwater and transmedia objects. NASA will conduct an independent study of unidentified phenomena in the atmosphere.

In view of such interest on the part of American colleagues, the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine decided to conduct an independent study of unidentified phenomena in the atmosphere. For this, the researchers used two weather stations installed in Kyiv and in the village of Vynarivka in the south of the Kyiv region. The distance between them was 120 km. The stations were equipped with CCD cameras ASI 178 MC and ASI 294 Pro, as well as Computar lenses with a focal length of 6 mm. The SharpCap 4.0 program was used to record data. Observations of the objects were carried out in the daytime sky.

The brightness of the sky, depending on the state of the atmosphere and the distance from the Sun, ranges from minus 3 to minus 5 magnitudes per square arc minute. Researchers have developed a special observation technique that takes into account the high speeds of observed objects. The exposure time was chosen in such a way that the image of the object did not shift significantly during the exposure. The frame rate was selected taking into account the speed of the object and the field of view of the camera. In practice, the exposure time was less than 1 ms, and the frame rate was at least 50 Hz. The footage was recorded in .ser format with 14 and 16 bits. The researchers determined that violations of these conditions lead to the lack of fixation of objects during observations. To determine their coordinates, cameras were installed in the direction of the zenith or the Moon.

“We observe a significant number of objects whose nature is not clear,” the study says. “The eye does not fix phenomena lasting less than one-tenth of a second It takes four-tenths of a second to recognize an event. Ordinary photo and video recordings will also not capture the [unidentified aerial phenomenon]. To detect UAP, you need to fine-tune the equipment: shutter speed, frame rate, and dynamic range.”

Ukraine’s astronomers say there are tons of UFOs over Kyiv

Two consecutive shots of ordinary fast-moving objects at a speed of at least 50 frames per second.

Ukraine’s astronomers say there are tons of UFOs over Kyiv

A group of glowing objects of varying brightness against the background of the moon.

Scientists divided their observations into two categories: cosmic and phantom. “We note that Cosmics are luminous objects, brighter than the background of the sky. We call these ships names of birds (swift, falcon, eagle),” the article says. “Phantoms are dark objects, with contrast from several to about 50 percent.”

Ukraine’s astronomers say there are tons of UFOs over Kyiv

Image of phantom object.

Ukraine’s astronomers say there are tons of UFOs over Kyiv

Composite image of phantom objects.

The use of cameras allowed scientists to make repeated observations of strange objects. The article does not specify what these objects are, only describes observations and mentions their high speed.

“Flights of single, group and squadrons of the ships were detected, moving at speeds from 3 to 15 degrees per second,” the study said. “Phantoms are observed in the troposphere at distances up to 10 – 12 km. We estimate their size from 3 to 12 meters and speeds up to 15 km/s.”

Boris Zhilyaev, the study’s lead scientist, declined to comment to Vice.