Brief
Mart Sander
The claims the writer was given for Mart Sander, in the order they were given.
1
Mart Sander believes the Merivälja object was never actually recovered by the Soviets because it inexplicably moved through the soil away from those attempting to retrieve it.
“Mart Sander actually says to us in his interview that he thinks the object was never actually recovered by the soviets that they weren't able to get to it because somehow inexplicably... it moved through the soil away from the people attempting to retrieve it”
Secret Soviet UFOs: What happened when two scientists knocked on a door in Estonia? | Reality Check 00:18:39.3-00:18:57.5 opinion second hand
2
Mart Sander holds the Guinness World Record for the most characters played by one actor in a single film, having played 48 distinct roles.
“He actually holds, I was laughing about this, the Guinness World Record for the most characters played by one actor in a single film, 48 distinct roles.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:05:05.9-00:05:15.4 administrative
3
Mart Sander considers the amount of contradictions surrounding the Merivalja object story the most fascinating aspect of it.
“What fascinates me most is probably the amount of contradictions surrounding it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:06:13.7-00:06:19.9 opinion first hand
4
Some scientific evidence suggests the mysterious object or structure beneath the Merivalja garden dates from a pre-ice-age era, based on the sediments covering it.
“A lot of evidence that the mysterious object or structure, however we choose to call it, that lies beneath this little suburban garden in Tallinn dates from really like pre-ice age era. It's based on the sediments that cover it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:06:29.8-00:06:52.0 observation first hand
5
Another conflicting theory holds that the Merivalja object was buried there as late as 1917.
“we seem to have another conflicting theory that the object was buried there as late as in 1917.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:06:53.8-00:07:00.8 hearsay
6
The last ice age began roughly 115,000 years ago.
“The last ice age began roughly 115,000 years ago.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:07:08.9-00:07:14.6 measurement first hand
7
Mart Sander considers that the more than 100,000-year discrepancy between dating theories of the Merivalja object proves there is something about it that is not understood.
“So once the evidence differs by more than 100,000 years, it surely proves that there is something there that we don't really understand about.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:07:15.3-00:07:26.1 opinion first hand
8
Mart Sander says he prefers to keep an open mind and, as a filmmaker, author and scientist, does not want to form opinions before having all the facts about the Merivalja object.
“Well, I would like to keep an open mind, but as a filmmaker and an author and also as a scientist, I really don't want to form opinions before I have all the facts.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:07:36.4-00:07:49.3 opinion first hand
9
Mart Sander personally likes to think of the Merivalja object as a surveillance station or monitoring device, like an ancient wildlife camera observing human civilisation.
“personally, I would like to think of this object as some kind of like a... surveillance station or a monitoring device it's like a like an ancient let's say it's an ancient wildlife camera it's a bird cam and we are of course the wildlife”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:07:55.5-00:08:13.3 opinion first hand
10
Mart Sander would like to think the Merivalja object is a non-human technology that has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, and believes there is strong evidence it is not a man-made object.
“I would like to think that. I really would. And there is strong evidence to support that it's not really a man-made object.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:08:31.3-00:08:40.4 opinion first hand
11
The size, structure and material of the Merivalja object have not been conclusively proven to this day.
“To this day, the size of it, the structure of it, the material, has not been proven conclusively.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:08:45.7-00:08:53.5 opinion first hand
12
Only fragments, or shards, of what is called the outer layer of the structure beneath the Merivalja garden have been recovered.
“We only have... bits, shards of what is called the outer layer of the structure that lies beneath it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:08:54.6-00:09:03.8 observation first hand
13
Mart Sander believes mainstream science wishes to downplay the Merivalja object and suggest it is either a man-made alloy or a natural formation.
“the mainstream science wishes to play it down and to somehow prove or suggest that it is either a man-made material alloy or a completely natural formation.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:09:15.6-00:09:31.7 opinion first hand
14
The Merivalja object was first dug up in 1969.
“it's been studied for 55 years ago when we first heard about it, when it was dug up in 1969.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:09:44.4-00:09:53.8 administrative first hand
15
State-of-the-art tests on the Merivalja object began in the 1980s across the Eastern Bloc, with the best scientists at many institutes and research centres working on it.
“A state of the art tests began in the 1980s all around the Eastern Bloc. The best scientists in many, many institutes and research centers worked on it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:09:57.0-00:10:11.7 administrative first hand
16
In the 1980s, evidence from tests on the Merivalja object seemed conclusive that the alloy could not be man-made and could not be produced on Earth.
“back then, the evidence seemed to be quite conclusive that this kind of alloy cannot be man-made and cannot be produced on our planet.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:10:13.4-00:10:24.8 observation first hand
17
Later researchers overruled the earlier conclusions and claimed the Merivalja object was a man-made alloy about a hundred years old, produced during the First World War as a super alloy at the Becker shipyards in Tallinn to fight the German army.
“we seem to completely overrule these conclusions and say, oh no, it's just a man-made alloy and a hundred years old at that, made during the First World War as a super alloy produced in Tallinn in the Becker shipyards, basically to fight the German army in the First World War.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:10:28.6-00:10:54.3 hearsay
18
Mart Sander went to the Tallinn Secondary College, where the wife of the man who dug the well that found the Merivalja object was also a teacher.
“I found it quite serendipitous that you went to the Tallinn Secondary College, where I understand the wife of the man who dug the well that found this object was also a teacher.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:13:15.8-00:13:27.1 administrative
19
Vivika Eva, Virgo Mitt's wife, was Mart Sander's favourite English teacher at school, widely loved, with a hearty laugh and great sense of humour, and had also studied opera.
“she was my favorite teacher... Hefty woman with a hearty laugh and great sense of humor. She was our English teacher... And she also had been studying opera.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:13:29.9-00:13:42.2 testimony first hand
20
Soviet military and researchers had been digging in the backyard of the Merivalja house for a couple of years during the 1980s excavation.
“Soviet military and researchers had been digging back there for a couple of years.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:14:31.4-00:14:37.9 testimony second hand
21
A Japanese team was about to arrive at the Merivalja house during the period of the 1980s excavation.
“The Japanese were about to arrive.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:14:38.8-00:14:40.6 testimony second hand
22
Vivika Eva's husband, who owned the house at Merivalja, began to have severe mental issues and was paralysed during the period of the 1980s excavations at the house.
“her husband, who owned the house, was actually starting to have severe mental issues and was paralyzed.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:14:46.8-00:14:56.7 testimony second hand
23
Vivika Eva's son, who was born in the Merivalja house, was born with a rare brain damage.
“her son, who was actually born in that house, was also born with a rare brain damage.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:14:58.3-00:15:06.3 testimony second hand
24
During the Soviet era, when Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union until the late 1980s, the Merivalja object was treated as an official secret that could not be discussed in newspapers, books, or publicly, though people whispered about it.
“During the Soviet era, which means that Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union until the late 80s, this wasn't really talked about. These secrets were like official secrets... But you couldn't really buy a newspaper and learn more about this or buy a book or go online. But these things were whispered.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:15:45.5-00:16:11.1 administrative first hand
25
There was a lot of UFO and paranormal research going on in the Soviet Union at the time the Merivalja object was investigated.
“there was a lot of UFO or paranormal research going on in the Soviet Union at that time.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:16:13.0-00:16:20.8 administrative first hand
26
The Merivalja object grew into a national myth or lore in Estonia, but nobody really knew anything factual about it.
“one of these things was the Merivälja object, which had really grown into almost like a lore, like a national myth. but nobody really knew anything about it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:16:34.9-00:16:46.8 opinion first hand
27
Mart Sander received a small bit of the mysterious material considered to be the outer layer of the object hidden beneath the Merivalja garden.
“I'm also really lucky to have received a small bit of the mysterious material, which now is considered to be the outer layer of something that is hidden beneath it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:16:54.2-00:17:10.1 testimony first hand
28
Vivika Eva's theories about the underground object beneath her garden sometimes changed depending on which scientists had been working there.
“She thought it was everything. I mean, it sometimes changed, according to the scientists who had been working there.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:18:08.6-00:18:15.7 testimony second hand
29
It has been said that Vivika Eva upheld the Merivalja object mystery lore because she was paid to do so as a caretaker and custodian of the house and gardens after the scientists left.
“it's been said that she really upheld this lore, this mystery, because she was paid to do so. And of course, she was indeed employed as a caretaker, as a custodian to the house and the gardens. once the the the scientists were not there so she was actually paid a princely sum to keep it up”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:18:19.6-00:18:39.1 hearsay
30
Vivika Eva's favourite theory was that the Merivalja object was one of a grid of surveillance stations or beacons installed on Earth in prehistoric times, dormant but waiting for a signal or event to be activated again.
“she did think that this was one of the... or one of a grid of surveillance stations or beacons that have been installed on this planet in prehistoric times and which seem to be dormant at the moment but waiting for either a signal or an event so this could be activated again.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:18:53.3-00:19:20.4 testimony second hand
31
The metal fragments from the Merivalja object discovery happened in 1969.
“This happened in 1969.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:20:12.1-00:20:12.9 administrative first hand
32
It was not until the late 1970s or early 1980s that the Merivalja object fragments found their way to the Estonian Institute of Geology.
“it wasn't until the late 70s or early 80s that these pieces actually found their way to the local Institute of Geology.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:20:13.9-00:20:20.9 administrative first hand
33
At the Estonian Institute of Geology, one of the Merivalja object fragments was handed to a lab assistant who received an electric shock in front of everyone and reportedly lost consciousness for a couple of seconds.
“until one of these pieces was handed to a lab assistant who received an electric shock in front of everyone. and actually is reported to have lost consciousness for a couple of seconds.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:20:35.9-00:20:49.9 hearsay
34
Tests on the Merivalja object shards found they were made of materials that cannot coexist on Earth as those materials are known to behave.
“these shards were tested with different methods and found to be made of materials that cannot really coexist on Earth as we know these materials to behave.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:20:56.1-00:21:12.2 measurement first hand
35
Tests on the Merivalja object suggested the material had cooled off without gravity effects, meaning it may have been produced in space or in an environment excluding gravitational effects.
“it also had many suggestions that they have been, like, cooling off without the gravity effects, which are, of course, here on Earth, meaning that it was produced somewhere either out of space or in an environment that somehow excluded gravitational effects.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:21:13.2-00:21:34.0 measurement first hand
36
The Merivalja object shards were sent to four different laboratories around the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, which confirmed the alloy could not be man-made.
“these shards were sent to four different laboratories around the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries. And these, as far as I know, confirmed mostly the fact that this cannot be a man-made alloy.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:21:37.8-00:21:53.8 measurement first hand
37
Most tests on the Merivalja object material in the 1980s were conducted outside Estonia, in Moscow, Leningrad and Kyiv, likely because it was deemed important, secret, or of military application.
“these tests were concluded mostly not in Estonia, because this was probably deemed to be too either important or secret or have military applications. So these tests were all concluded either in Moscow, in Leningrad, in Kyiv.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:22:49.0-00:23:06.0 opinion first hand
38
Most of the Merivalja object shards were taken away from Estonia completely.
“most of these shards were taken away from Estonia completely.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:23:13.6-00:23:16.4 administrative first hand
39
Tests on the Merivalja object conducted between 2012 and 2017 showed completely different results from the earlier 1980s tests, and the research team leaders said they could no longer be sure they were testing the original pieces.
“The tests that were conducted back in 2012 through 2017 they showed some completely different results, but of course even the research team leaders said that they can no longer be sure that they were actually testing the original pieces”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:23:18.4-00:23:43.9 measurement first hand
40
Mart Sander recently found an interview in which it was claimed for the first time that the Committee for State Security (KGB) suspected the structure beneath the Merivalja house housed two dead occupants.
“even as late as a couple of days ago, I found another interview online, which was the first time I actually read that the KGB suspected that the structure really housed two dead occupants”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:24:53.8-00:25:12.4 hearsay second hand
41
Mart Sander has not been able to corroborate the claim that the Committee for State Security (KGB) suspected the Merivalja object housed two dead occupants, but intends to look into it.
“I have not been able to corroborate this in any way, but I shall be looking into it.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:25:29.9-00:25:36.1 opinion first hand
42
Mart Sander describes Alexander Deyev as a classic villain-type figure with a very dark past who became a protagonist or antagonist in his book.
“he's kind of a mixed bag, and he's turned into this protagonist or antagonist or whoever in my book because he's just such a classic villain, a very interesting type with a very dark past.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:26:17.2-00:26:37.9 opinion first hand
43
Alexander Deyev may have been employed by the Committee for State Security (KGB) as one of the best known psychics used by the KGB in the Soviet Union.
“he's always been like this on this cutting edge, perhaps employed by the KGB, perhaps as one of the best known psychics, let's call it that way, in the Soviet Union, who were used by the KGB.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:27:03.6-00:27:20.1 opinion first hand
44
Alexander Deyev's fall from grace within the Soviet establishment was spectacular, involving being disgraced and ridiculed at the highest level of the Soviets.
“his fall from grace was spectacular. The way he was disgraced and ridiculed is something to marvel at. And this will stand on the highest level of the Soviets.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:27:21.9-00:27:35.0 opinion first hand
45
Mart Sander thinks Alexander Deyev was genuinely interested in mysteries such as the Merivalja object and was really trying to get to the bottom of them, but also thinks Deyev was a fantasist.
“I think he was genuinely interested in all these things. He was really trying to get to the bottom of this mystery and probably other mysteries as well. But then again, I think he was a fantasist, a necromancer, whatever you call it, as well.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:28:17.5-00:28:31.0 opinion first hand
46
Alexander Deyev initially suggested the smoky glass orb was millions of years old and claimed to have proven this by scientific methods, contradicting later claims that it was a century-old ironing device.
“How can modern science not conclude whether the piece is millions of years old, as he first suggested, and evidently was able to prove it by scientific methods? Or how can the same object be about a century-old ironing device”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:28:36.1-00:28:57.9 hearsay second hand
47
Alexander Deyev reportedly calculated the location of the 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon.
“he reportedly calculated the whereabouts of the event”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:31:05.6-00:31:11.1 hearsay second hand
48
Alexander Deyev reportedly concluded that the 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon took place over the Gulf of Finland.
“he calculated reportedly that this event took place over the Gulf of Finland”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:31:47.2-00:31:55.0 hearsay second hand
49
Tallinn and Helsinki are two capitals separated by less than 80 kilometres of sea.
“Tallinn and Helsinki are two capitals separated only by less than 80 kilometers of sea”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:31:56.0-00:32:02.3 measurement first hand
50
Mart Sander considers it plausible that if the 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon battle took place over the Gulf of Finland, debris fell from the sky to what is now called Merivalja in Tallinn, where the Merivalja object lies.
“If this battle took place over the Gulf of Finland, it's very plausible that the debris fell from the skies to what we now call Merivalja in Talium, where the object lies.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:32:10.2-00:32:26.4 opinion first hand
51
The 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon woodcut shows what appears to be a battle, including craft being shot down and smoking.
“It shows a battle. It even shows a couple of craft being shot down. and smoking.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:33:11.1-00:33:17.6 observation first hand
52
Mart Sander compares the imagery in the 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon woodcut to Indian epics describing aerial battles above cities.
“It's pretty much like the Indian epics describing the aerial battles above the cities.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:33:19.7-00:33:24.6 opinion first hand
53
There is no impact crater or impact site at the Merivalja object location.
“there is not really a crater, not an impact site”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:34:15.7-00:34:19.4 observation first hand
54
There is a theory that the Merivalja object was able to land itself relatively softly, which would explain claims of two dead occupants in the craft.
“Perhaps it was able to land itself reasonably softly. That would, of course, explain the theory that there are two dead occupants. in what I can only refer to as a craft.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:34:20.0-00:34:32.1 hearsay
55
The 1585 Vatican archive booklet on Estonian dragon sightings was published and circulated widely, and was even translated into other languages.
“this booklet, which was actually published and circulated widely and even translated to other languages, dates from about 20 years after this celestial event”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:35:11.8-00:35:25.2 administrative first hand
56
The 1585 Vatican archive booklet on Estonian dragon sightings dates from about 20 years after the 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon.
“dates from about 20 years after this celestial event”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:35:20.3-00:35:25.2 administrative first hand
57
One of Alexander Deyev's D field generators was reportedly tested by the Estonian Academy of Sciences and found to be inoperative and useless.
“one of these generators was reportedly tested by the Student Academy of Sciences and found to be quite inoperative and useless”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:36:46.7-00:36:56.2 hearsay
58
Mart Sander visited the Merivalja house, whose name means Silver Fir Road, about a year or two after Alexander Deyev was forced to leave.
“I visited Vivica's house on this, which, by the way, means Silver Fir Road. a couple of years or a year after Deyev was forced to leave”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:37:10.8-00:37:24.4 testimony first hand
59
Alexander Deyev was forced to leave Merivalja when the political situation changed and the Committee for State Security (KGB) and Soviet defence systems were no longer welcome in Estonia.
“a year after Deyev was forced to leave because that's when the political situations started to change and the KGB and Soviet defense systems were no longer welcome in Estonia”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:37:21.6-00:37:35.4 observation first hand
60
Mart Sander did not find any of Alexander Deyev's equipment when he visited the Merivalja house, as it had all been removed.
“I sadly did not find any equipment. He had removed everything”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:37:42.0-00:37:45.1 testimony first hand
61
Mart Sander saw that the gardens of the Merivalja house looked like a closed mine shaft, devastated from the owner's point of view.
“I saw the gardens in the state that they were in. It looked like a closed mine shaft. really devastating from the point of view of the owner of the house.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:37:45.8-00:37:56.8 observation first hand
62
Alexander Deyev was a self-styled academic without a formal academic education, who Mart Sander describes as a mentalist claiming telepathic contact with the Merivalja object.
“a man who was a self-styled academic of the people, meaning he didn't really have an academic education, but he was a mentalist, he was telepathically in contact with the object”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:38:41.6-00:38:55.1 hearsay first hand
63
Mart Sander states that telepathic contact has also been established with the Merivalja object more recently, beyond Alexander Deyev's claims.
“should I jump forward and say that we've also established a telepathic contact with the object?”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:38:58.0-00:39:03.0 testimony first hand
64
Linus Kordes is a young Swedish psychic, mentalist, and channeler who tried to make telepathic contact with the Merivalja object.
“Linus Kordes is, yes, he's a young psychic, a mentalist, and he is a channeler mostly. He channels... the otherworldly consciousness. And he tried to connect, to tap into the object.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:39:20.0-00:39:40.1 administrative first hand
65
The impressions Linus Kordes revealed about the Merivalja object were very much in line with what Alexander Deyev previously said.
“he revealed quite interesting things which are actually very much in line with what Dejev said”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:39:43.2-00:39:50.5 observation first hand
66
Linus Kordes does not speak Russian and had no prior knowledge of the Merivalja object.
“Linus does not speak Russian. He had no knowledge of this object at all.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:39:52.9-00:39:57.5 administrative first hand
67
Mart Sander states the Merivalja object, or its associated structure or grid, can be switched on by a specific sound frequency.
“the object or the structure or the whole grid or part of the grid can be switched on by a specific sound frequency”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:40:21.3-00:40:31.0 hearsay second hand
68
A Russian document indicated Alexander Deyev tried to sing to the Merivalja object to lure it and awaken it using a specific sound produced by his apparatus.
“I found this one Russian document that said Deyev was trying to sing to the object and to lure it, to awaken it by a specific sound which was produced by his magical apparatus”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:40:42.2-00:40:58.9 hearsay second hand
69
Linus Kordes said the sound of C-sharp would, at a precise moment, be the frequency that awakens the Merivalja object.
“Linus said that it's the sound of C sharp that would at a precise moment be the frequency that awakens the object”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:41:01.8-00:41:13.8 hearsay second hand
70
The Merivalja object was never actually seen or reached by the Soviet excavation team.
“Because the object was never seen nor reached.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:42:44.1-00:42:47.0 observation first hand
71
Many people involved in the Soviet excavation reportedly suffered burns, heart failure, and strange occurrences once they got too close to the Merivalja object beneath the excavation shaft.
“many people reportedly suffered from burns, from heart failure, strange occurrences once they got too close to the object, which was beneath the shaft”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:42:57.9-00:43:11.4 hearsay
72
The Soviet excavation team did not break through a shield that reportedly covers the Merivalja object.
“they did not break through the shield, which reportedly shields and covers the object which is beneath”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:43:27.5-00:43:36.4 hearsay
73
The upper layer covering the Merivalja object is described as very large.
“The upper layer is very large indeed.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:43:37.0-00:43:40.0 hearsay
74
According to illustrations, the Merivalja object is a semicircular disc-shaped object beneath the upper layer, which has never been breached.
“the semicircular thing, the disc, let's call it that, is beneath the upper layer. So this has never, to my knowledge, this has never been even breached.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:43:51.0-00:44:02.6 hearsay
75
The only material produced regarding the objects beneath the Merivalja property consists of drawings made mostly by mentalists who claimed to have reached out for the object and probed it with their minds.
“there's nothing to be shown except these drawings which were made mostly by mentalists who claimed to have reached out for the object and probed it by the power of their minds”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:44:47.4-00:44:59.6 observation first hand
76
In the late 1980s, before the Soviet collapse and Alexander Deyev's forced return to Russia in disgrace, there were plans to purchase the Merivalja house and neighbouring lots to clear them for scientific research.
“in the late 80s, just before the Soviet power collapse and Dejev was forced to return to Russia in disgrace, there were plans to purchase the house and also the neighboring lots to clear them for the scientific research”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:45:14.8-00:45:33.0 hearsay first hand
77
The plan to purchase the Merivalja house and neighbouring lots induced panic among residents, some of whom remembered the Soviet deportations of the 1940s.
“it induced quite a panic in the area. Because back then, I mean, people even remembered the Soviet deportations of the 1940s”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:45:34.1-00:45:42.6 hearsay first hand
78
During the Soviet deportations of the 1940s, people were given 30 minutes to pack one suitcase before being sent into Siberia.
“people were given 30 minutes to pack one suitcase and they were sent off into the night into Siberia”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:45:43.2-00:45:48.2 hearsay
79
Mart Sander states that the money the Committee for State Security (KGB) spent researching the Merivalja object must have been huge, given the KGB's bottomless resources.
“KGB's pockets were bottomless, and the money spent on this research must have been huge”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:46:29.3-00:46:34.9 opinion first hand
80
Igor Volker reportedly said the Merivalja object is a very dangerous object that should and must be closed.
“Mr. Volker reportedly said that this, it's a very dangerous object and it should be and must be closed”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:46:50.9-00:46:58.9 hearsay second hand
81
Igor Volker performed a ritual to close the shafts at the Merivalja site after Alexander Deyev left in 1988, believing this would keep the object dormant.
“after the day I've left in the late 80s, '88, he performed this, dare I call it, ritual of closing the shafts... to make sure that it stays dormant”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:47:00.6-00:47:15.3 testimony first hand
82
Mart Sander is a filmmaker and plans to translate the Merivalja object story to the screen.
“you're talking to a filmmaker. So yes, I'm planning to. It's my dream to actually translate this story to the screen”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:47:56.8-00:48:03.8 administrative first hand
83
Mart Sander considers it unlikely the Merivalja object was a meteorite, since there is no impact crater of any kind at the site.
“no, it most probably could not have been a meteorite, unless it really slowed down nicely. There is no impact creator of any kind”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:48:09.3-00:48:20.3 opinion first hand
84
The Kaali crater on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia has also been referred to as the island of Thule, or Ultima Thule, the end of the world.
“there is this very magical place called Kali on the island of Saaremaa, which has also been referred to as the island of Thule, Ultima Thule, the end of the world”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:48:26.1-00:48:37.4 administrative first hand
85
The island of Saaremaa was reportedly investigated even by the ancient Greeks.
“which has also been referred to as the island of Thule, Ultima Thule, the end of the world, and which was investigated even reportedly the ancient Greeks”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:48:32.1-00:48:42.2 hearsay
86
The Kaali crater has also been referred to as the crash landing site of a craft.
“there is this huge, not huge, huge to our standards crater, impact crater, which has also been referred to as a crash landing site of a craft, yes”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:48:46.8-00:49:02.5 hearsay
87
Mart Sander considers that comparing the Kaali crater with the Merivalja object site shows the Merivalja object cannot be a meteorite crash site, since the Merivalja site lacks an impact crater.
“comparing these two becomes quite evident that this cannot be a meteorite crash site”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:49:03.4-00:49:09.5 opinion first hand
88
Mart Sander is skeptical that a super alloy could have been produced during World War I that would still amaze scientists in the best laboratories of the Soviet Union and the world today, who concluded such an alloy cannot be produced with current knowledge.
“how could we have produced this kind of super alloy during the First World War that would still amaze the scientists in the best laboratories of the Soviet Union and now in the world, when they concluded that this kind of alloy cannot be produced with our current knowledge”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:49:59.6-00:50:22.8 opinion first hand
89
There is no documented evidence of any such super alloy being buried at Merivalja.
“there is no, absolutely no documented evidence of this kind of alloy being buried anywhere”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:50:31.7-00:50:37.8 observation first hand
90
Only Anto Raukas has ever suggested the buried super-alloy explanation for the Merivalja object.
“only Mr. Raukas has ever suggested that”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:50:50.3-00:50:52.9 observation first hand
91
Vivika Eva told Mart Sander about the paranormal phenomena at the Merivalja house, and Mart Sander met the dog, which was described as a nervous wreck.
“Vivica told me all about this and I've actually met the dog. The dog was a nervous wreck”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:51:38.8-00:51:43.2 testimony second hand
92
Mart Sander witnessed the dog at the Merivalja house launch out and bark at something invisible while they were having tea.
“I've witnessed the dog actually launch out at something, bark at something quite invisible when we were there. We were having tea and suddenly the dog just became bizarre seeing something.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:51:44.0-00:51:57.3 observation first hand
93
Vivika Eva confirmed to Mart Sander that she had witnessed paranormal phenomena at the Merivalja house.
“So Vivica confirmed she'd seen paranormal phenomena? Absolutely, absolutely, yes. She discussed these things.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:51:59.2-00:52:05.6 testimony second hand
94
It was later suggested that Vivika Eva kept feeding the Merivalja legend to monetise it and act as its custodian.
“later on, it's been said that, of course, she just kept feeding on this legend to somehow monetize it, to be the custodian of the legend or the gateway of whatever”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:52:09.6-00:52:21.6 hearsay
95
Mart Sander does not believe the dog at the Merivalja house was paid or trained to act strangely, based on witnessing its behaviour.
“I can vouch that the dog probably wasn't on it and wasn't paid to act strangely in the vicinity of strangers”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:52:27.7-00:52:37.8 opinion first hand
96
Mart Sander believes the final closing date of the Merivalja shaft was 1988, after Alexander Deyev was forced to leave.
“I think the final closing date was 1988. It must have been after Deyev was forced to leave.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:53:19.8-00:53:27.2 opinion first hand
97
A Japanese crew arrived at the Merivalja site a couple of days around the time of the shaft's final closure.
“We must not forget that the Japanese crew arrived a couple of days.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:53:30.6-00:53:36.8 administrative first hand
98
Vormsi Enn and Igor Volker were not really interested in the KGB's (Committee for State Security) activities.
“I think these gentlemen who are by now, sadly, all passed on, both Vormsi and Mr. Volker, they were not really interested in the KGB and their doings.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:53:54.0-00:54:06.6 opinion first hand
99
Vormsi Enn and Igor Volker were deeply worried about the effects that the Merivalja object or structure might have on the country and the city.
“They were really concerned and deeply worried about the effects of what this object or structure might have on the country, on the city.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:54:12.2-00:54:23.9 opinion first hand
100
Vormsi Enn and Igor Volker suggested that the Merivalja object be reburied and the excavation shafts refilled.
“they really suggested that this must be reburied and the shafts refilled and they managed to do that by 1988.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:54:42.8-00:54:52.4 testimony first hand
101
The reburial of the Merivalja shafts was completed by 1988.
“they managed to do that by 1988.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:54:50.1-00:54:52.4 testimony first hand
102
Mart Sander is confident that there is something present at the Merivalja object site, and even hardened sceptics have confirmed this.
“Oh yes, absolutely. There's never been any doubt that there's something there. I mean, the most hardened skeptics have all confirmed that there is something there.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:55:02.3-00:55:14.7 opinion first hand
103
Different research groups hold differing opinions on whether the Merivalja object is a natural object formed over millions of years, a man-made alloy roughly 100 years old, or something in between.
“Is it just a natural object, just something that has formed in the course of millions of years? Is it a relatively new man-made alloy dating like 100 years ago? Or is it something in between? And there we have as many different opinions as there are different research groups.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:55:18.1-00:55:38.7 opinion first hand
104
Mart Sander has not gained access to the materials or report produced from the 1991 Japanese investigation of the Merivalja garden.
“Well, sadly, I don't know. And it seems that you, sir, know more than I do because I have not gained any access to these materials.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:56:20.7-00:56:28.3 testimony first hand
105
Igor Volker, who died two years before this conversation, reportedly had some of the footage filmed by the 1991 Japanese investigation crew at the Merivalja garden.
“But I've heard that Mr. Volker, who passed away two years ago, has or had some of the footage filmed by the crew.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:57:46.6-00:57:57.1 hearsay second hand
106
It was later reported that most of the 1991 Japanese investigation crew at the Merivalja garden were intelligence personnel, with only the cameraman being a genuine cameraman who filmed the whole event.
“And of course, it was later reported that the crew were mostly intelligent people and only the cameraman was like a real cameraman who really actually filmed the whole thing.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:57:57.7-00:58:08.0 hearsay second hand
107
There is an urban-legend-like tale that everyone on the 1991 Japanese investigation team mysteriously died within a couple of months, with only one person surviving, though Mart Sander has found no written evidence to corroborate it.
“including the absolutely fantastic tale of everyone in the team mysteriously dying in course of a couple of months with only one person surviving. And again, I have been trying to find any kind of written evidence to corroborate, but it does sound like an urban legend, doesn't it?”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:58:13.2-00:58:36.7 hearsay second hand
108
Alexander Deyev took over a large electronics factory in Estonia to manufacture his own devices, which were later completely discredited.
“He did some shady business in Estonia. He took over this large electronics factory to manufacture or produce his own magical systems, which were then later on discredited completely.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:59:35.4-00:59:48.9 testimony first hand
109
Alexander Deyev's downfall was orchestrated from the highest level of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, including a special television programme ridiculing him and pamphlets written about him.
“his downfall wasn't orchestrated in Estonia, it was orchestrated from the highest level of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, because the way they attacked him publicly, it was really like a public execution with all the, like a special TV program produced, ridiculing him, the pamphlets being written about him”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 00:59:50.4-01:00:12.9 testimony first hand
110
Mart Sander considers it possible that the Soviet Union's internal problems at the time eclipsed the mystery of the Merivalja object, rather than the interest being deliberately suppressed.
“But we have to remember that by that time, Soviet Union was facing so many internal problems that perhaps it was eclipsing this little mystery.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:00:57.4-01:01:10.8 opinion first hand
111
Mart Sander considers the scale of the public campaign against Alexander Deyev, who had been a valuable Soviet asset for many years, proof that the campaign was organised to thoroughly discredit everything he had been involved with.
“knowing how the Russian system works, the way the system attacked Deyev who had been its priceless asset for many years. It is spectacular and it can only prove that this public execution was organized to really, really discredit everything that he had dealings with.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:01:13.8-01:01:38.9 opinion first hand
112
After the Russians had left and Estonia had regained independence, Vivika Eva was approached by men not wearing uniforms who reportedly offered her a suitcase full of money for the Merivalja property.
“Well, we only know that Vivica was approached by a couple of gentlemen, this time not wearing uniforms anymore, because this happened after the Russians had left and Estonia had regained the independence. And they reportedly offered her a suitcase full of money.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:02:08.2-01:02:27.9 hearsay second hand
113
The men who offered Vivika Eva a suitcase of money were reportedly Russians accompanied by an Estonian man she knew.
“They were reportedly Russians accompanied by an Estonian gentleman whom Vivica knew.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:02:30.8-01:02:35.9 hearsay second hand
114
Vivika Eva declined the offer of a suitcase full of money for the Merivalja property.
“And Vivica declined.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:02:37.0-01:02:37.9 testimony second hand
115
Vivika Eva later joked that had the offer been for less money, she would have accepted it.
“And later on, she jokingly said, had they offered less, I would have accepted.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:02:39.0-01:02:43.3 hearsay second hand
116
Mart Sander considers it established beyond doubt that something of great interest is present at the Merivalja object site, regardless of politics or nationality.
“I'm quite sure that we've established the one indisputable fact that something is there, something of great interest to many parties, regardless of politics or nationality.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:03:29.0-01:03:41.2 opinion first hand
117
Mart Sander believes the KGB (Committee for State Security) would not have been so dedicated to obtaining the Merivalja property unless they were fairly certain something of great value was within reach, given that the Soviet Union spanned one-sixth of the world's land and had no reason to focus on such a small provincial spot otherwise.
“KGB would not have been so dedicated to get its hands on the property had it been just a suspicion of there might be something. I mean, Soviet Union was such a large territory uh one-sixth of the world why should they be concentrated on this very very little provincial spot unless they were pretty sure that a priceless priceless thing is is almost at the reach of their fingers”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:03:48.5-01:04:19.4 opinion first hand
118
Mart Sander personally believes that what lies beneath the Merivalja house is definitely not a natural formation, not a man-made object, and not an Estonian superalloy buried around 100 years ago.
“Personally, I'm not ashamed to say that, yes, I'm quite sure that what lies there is definitely not a natural formation, it's not a man-made object, it's not an Estonian superalloy buried there 100 years ago.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:04:41.1-01:04:59.7 opinion first hand
119
Mart Sander believes scientific proof strongly suggests that whatever is hidden beneath the Merivalja house has been there since either the end of the last ice age, roughly 12,000 years ago, or before the beginning of the first ice age, roughly 115,000 years ago.
“The scientific proof strongly suggests that what's hidden there has been there for a long, long time, probably either since the end of the last ice age, which occurred around 12,000 years ago or before the beginning of the first ice age, which began 115,000 years ago.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:05:01.1-01:05:23.7 opinion first hand
120
Mart Sander considers the most plausible explanation to be that the Merivalja object is an artificial object, possibly the remnant of a civilisation that predates humanity by hundreds of thousands of years, or a more recent or older object placed, buried, or crashed there, or serving as a beacon or observation device for other civilisations.
“the most plausible explanation is that, yes, this is an artificial object. It's either from the remnants of a civilization that came before us, hundreds of thousands of years before us, or it's a more recent or even an older object. planted here, buried here, crushed here, or just keeping an eye on us or being a beacon for other civilizations.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:05:44.2-01:06:10.8 opinion first hand
121
Mart Sander intends to move to America to be as far as possible from the Merivalja object site once it is dug up.
“I suggest once it's been dug up, I was thinking of going to America to be as far as possible. from this event.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 01:06:57.5-01:07:06.8 testimony first hand
122
The area now known as Merivalja in Tallinn was seabed several hundred years ago, and the sea has receded significantly over the last five to six hundred years.
“Back then, Merivalja would have been seabed. The sea has actually receded a lot during the last five or six hundred years”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 62-68 observation first hand
123
Estonian peasants reportedly described the objects seen in the sky, with flames and smoke emitting from them, as dragons.
“Estonians reportedly were worried about flying dragons in the sky. ... Estonian peasants, what would they call these objects in the sky with flames and smoke emitting from them? Obviously, dragons.”
Object M: The buried Estonian mystery the KGB spent years trying to reach | Reality Check 2026-08-11 82-87 hearsay