Claim analyzed

Science

“Scientists warned that there is a secret base on the Moon after a giant fleet of UFOs was spotted on the Moon's surface, as reported by the Daily Mail.”

Submitted on X by @Pavel32601592

Mostly True
8/10

The Daily Mail did publish a report claiming Ukrainian scientists saw more than 20 unidentified objects near the Moon and speculated it could serve as a UFO base. But the underlying material was speculative and not peer-reviewed, and the report overstated uncertain observations as if they showed objects on the Moon's surface. The evidence supports the existence of the report, not the existence of a secret lunar base.

Caveats

  • The underlying 'secret base' claim was speculative; the cited material used tentative language, not proof.
  • The observations were reported near or across the Moon, not firmly established on its surface.
  • The coverage relies heavily on tabloid amplification of an unverified scientific preprint.

Sources

Sources used in the analysis

#1
Daily Mail 2025-10-14 | Scientists issue warning after spotting more than 20 giant UFOs near the Moon – and say it may be a secret base for alien craft

Astronomers studying the moon claim to have captured possible evidence of a technologically advanced nonhuman civilization.[1] Scientists at Ukraine's Main Astronomical Observatory reported observing more than 20 unidentified objects moving near and across the moon several months in 2025.[1] In a new study that has not been peer-reviewed, the team said they identified two categories of UFOs [...] and raised the possibility that the objects originated from a hidden base on the moon, stating: "We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs," the team shared in the study.[1] The study has not been peer-reviewed, and its claims of giant, technologically advanced craft have not been independently confirmed.[1]

#2
International Business Times 2025-10-02 | UFO Lunar Base Discovered? Astronomers Detect 25-Mile Wide Objects Near Moon

Astronomers at Ukraine's Main Astronomical Observatory have ignited a global scientific firestorm by claiming to have captured compelling photographic evidence of massive unidentified flying objects near the moon, raising the unverified prospect of a hidden UFO lunar base.[2] Utilising specialised high-speed cameras during observation sessions in Vinarivka village in 2025, researchers documented over 20 anomalies, including colossal disc-shaped craft measuring up to 25 miles across, which they argue could point to a technologically advanced civilisation operating just beyond Earth.[2] 'UFOs are observed on Earth and in near-Earth space. We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs,' the team shared in the study.[2]

#3
Irish Star 2025-10-03 | Scientists warn of secret alien base after fleet of UFOs spotted on the Moon's surface

A trio of Ukrainian researchers has claimed that the Moon is being used as a base for UFOs, as they say they have captured evidence of "technologically advanced civilization" that is non-human.[1] In a report about a new study titled 'UFO Dynamics on the Moon,' researchers at Ukraine’s Main Astronomical Observatory said that they had detected more than twenty objects near the Moon in high-speed video recordings made in August and September 2025.[1] "We believe that the Moon serves as a base for UFOs," the researchers, Boris Zhilyaev, Vladimir Petukhov, Sergey Pokhvala, wrote in the report.[1] The study had not been peer-reviewed, and its claims have not been independently confirmed.[1]

#4
The Free Press Journal 2025-10-02 | UFO Mystery: What Flew Across The Moon? Ukrainian scientists document more than 20 unidentified aerial objects

Scientists at Ukraine’s Main Astronomical Observatory reported observing more than 20 unidentified moving objects near and across the Moon in 2025.[5] In a new study that has not been peer-reviewed, the team said they identified two categories of UFOs: ‘atmospheric’ objects that appeared stationary and ‘continental’ objects that appeared to move across the Moon’s surface.[7] The researchers argued that those patterns could indicate structured, technological behavior, and raised the possibility that the objects originated from a hidden base on the Moon.[7] 'UFOs are observed on Earth and in near-Earth space. We believe that the Moon serves as a base for UFOs,' the team shared in the study.[7] However, the claims should be treated with caution. The study has not been peer-reviewed, and no independent scientific body has confirmed its findings.[5]

#5
BroBible 2025-07-02 | Secret CIA Program Claimed Human-Like Aliens Were Found On The Dark Side Of The Moon

A declassified CIA file claims a secret government program found alien life on the dark side of the moon more than 25 years ago, including "a secret complex of towers and buildings on the moon’s surface where the aliens worked."[14] According to remote viewer Ingo Swann, U.S. government officials knew there was an alien base on the moon, and he claimed to have psychically perceived "towers, machinery, lights of different colors, strange‑looking buildings…" during this alleged program.[14] The report notes these are claims from a remote viewing experiment, not physical scientific observations; mainstream scientific bodies do not accept remote viewing as evidence of extraterrestrial structures.[14]

#6
TigerDroppings 2025-10-02 | Scientists in Ukraine claim they saw 20 UFO's on the moon

Astronomers studying the moon claim to have captured possible evidence of a technologically advanced nonhuman civilization.[7] Scientists at Ukraine’s Main Astronomical Observatory reported observing more than 20 unidentified objects moving near and across the moon several months in 2025.[7] The researchers argued that those patterns could indicate structured, technological behavior, and raised the possibility that the objects originated from a hidden base on the moon.[7] 'UFOs are observed on Earth and in near-Earth space. We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs,' the team shared in the study.[7] While the scientists are sure the objects they observed were likely nonhuman craft, there is no scientific evidence of aliens or artificial structures on the moon.[7] The study has not been peer-reviewed, and its claims of giant, technologically advanced craft have not been independently confirmed.[7]

#7
Caliber.Az 2025-06-29 | Daily Mail: NASA Apollo 16 audio mentions “alien star base”

Caliber.Az reports on "recently released NASA audio recordings from the Apollo 16 era" where a speculative remark was made during a mission briefing: "It could be an alien star base or something. Anyway, the next slide shows the front side of the moon."[12] The article clarifies that the comment followed a discussion of a "great big hole" near the Van de Graaff crater and was made "in a casual tone, followed by laughter," indicating speculation rather than an official scientific conclusion.[12]

#8
В фокусе 2025-06-29 | Базу инопланетян на Луне в NASA обсуждали еще в 1972-м - архив рассекречен

A Russian news report summarizing declassified NASA documents states that during a secret NASA meeting after the Apollo 16 mission, participants discussed a "huge hole" near the Van de Graaff crater on the Moon’s far side and one participant "suggested that it could be an alien base or something like that."[13] The coverage attributes the story to 72 newly released files highlighted by the British newspaper Daily Mirror; the remark about an alien base is presented as a speculative comment during the meeting, not as an official NASA finding.[13]

#9
X 2025-10-02 | Kabamur on X quoting Daily Mail coverage of Ukrainian scientists observing more than 20 UFOs on the Moon

Daily Mail: Ukrainian scientists observe more than 20 UFOs on the moon "Some of the disc-shaped objects were estimated to measure between 15 and 25 miles across." "The objects displayed unusual changes in brightness and rotation." ""We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs" the team shared in the study."[12]

#10
UAPWatchers (X) 🚨UKRAINIAN ASTRONOMERS CLAIM THE MOON MAY BE A UFO BASE

🚨UKRAINIAN ASTRONOMERS CLAIM THE MOON MAY BE A UFO BASE. A new paper from researchers at Ukraine's Main Astronomical Observatory claims high speed telescope footage captured more than 20 unidentified objects near and apparently moving across the Moon.[9] The authors [...] report repeating brightness fluctuations and rotation patterns that they interpret as signs of structured, technological behaviour.[9] The authors of the paper openly propose that the Moon may serve as a base for UFOs, that such objects could reach Earth in around 20 minutes.[9] These conclusions aren't established fact.[9]

#11
DailyMail.com 2025-07-01 | NASA whistleblowers claim 'alien presence' is hidden in altered moon photos

DailyMail.com reports whistleblower claims that NASA altered Apollo mission photos to hide an "alien presence" around the Moon.[7] Physicist Maaneli Derakhshani told the American Alchemy podcast that multiple Apollo missions allegedly captured photos of UFOs around the Moon, but he also said the altered pictures and sightings are "not definitive proof of aliens," even as he found the patterns hard to explain as natural geology or camera glitches.[7]

#12
Barstool Sports 2025-07-03 | Today in Resurfaced CIA Reports About Insane Secret Government Programs: An Alien Civilization on the Dark Side of the Moon

Barstool Sports, citing Daily Mail, summarizes a resurfaced CIA file and remote viewer Ingo Swann’s claims that a secret government program found "an alien civilization on the dark side of the moon" and that Swann psychically observed "towers, buildings, and human‑like aliens working at a secret complex on the moon’s surface."[15] The article notes that there have long been disputed reports that alien structures have been spotted by Apollo crews, but these accounts are described as contested by "all the official sources" and presented as part of "insane secret government programs," not accepted scientific findings.[15]

#13
X 2026-03-15 | Brian Roemmele – A Detailed Review of “UFO Dynamics on the Moon” Paper

This 2026 preprint (DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13866.79042; also available via the observatory’s site) presents high-speed telescopic video observations of anomalous objects in the vicinity of and apparently associated with the Moon.[3] The authors classify the objects into two broad categories—“atmospheric” (appearing stationary relative to the lunar disc) and “continental” (moving across or near the lunar surface)—and argue that the data point toward technologically advanced craft for which the Moon functions as a base.[3]

#14
The Economic Times 2026-05-08 | Angels, star-shaped structure, and four-foot-tall aliens: What declassified UFO files released by Trump administration revealed

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday released dozens of previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings, extraterrestrial life, and unidentified aerial phenomena, promising what they called “unprecedented transparency” for the American public.[16] The roughly 170 files include a photograph of “unidentified phenomena” allegedly captured from the Moon’s surface during the Apollo 12 mission in 1969, along with transcripts from the Apollo 17 crew describing mysterious objects spotted near the Moon in 1972.[16] The report further claimed that newly released footage showed a glowing “eight-pointed star-shaped” object, but none of this material has been accepted as proof of an alien base on the Moon by mainstream scientific bodies.[16]

#15
YouTube 2026-01-20 | Ukrainian Astronomers Claim Massive UAPs Near the Moon? What the Preprint Really Says

A controversial preprint by Ukrainian researchers Boris Zhilyaev, Vladimir Petukhov, and Sergey Pokhvala analyzes high-speed observations near the Moon, claiming to have detected anomalous objects measuring up to 25–40 km across and traveling at speeds of up to 11 km/s.[6] The paper even speculates about the possibility of an advanced technological presence associated with the Moon.[6] However, it's important to note that this is a preprint published on platforms like ResearchGate and Academia.edu and has not been peer-reviewed or independently confirmed.[6]

#16
YouTube 2026-02-10 | Insane! Astronomers spot huge UFOs orbiting the Moon!

Today we're going deep examining a scientific paper entitled UFO Dynamics on the Moon.[11] And this was not published by some fringe UFO society. It was instead published by the Main Astronomical Observatory at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.[11] The authors conclude that the moon might be a UFO base.[11] A professional observatory in Ukraine has published quantitative claims of 25 to 40 kilometer discs and 36 kilometer spinning toroids near the moon moving at double-digit kilometers per second with brightness modulation in the hertz range and the explicit conclusion that the moon is a base for a technologically advanced civilization that can reach Earth in minutes.[11]

#17
Daily Mail US (X) 2025-10-14 | Scientists issue warning after spotting more than 20 giant UFOs racing across the moon

Scientists issue warning after spotting more than 20 giant UFOs racing across the moon.[3] The post links to the Daily Mail coverage describing Ukrainian astronomers' observations of unidentified objects near and across the lunar surface and the suggestion that the Moon may serve as a base for UFOs.[3]

#18
Express 2026-06-21 | UFO Files bombshell as NASA photos show 'mysterious flashing object' over Moon

An image published by NASA in the UFO Files depicts an enigmatic aerial object observing astronauts as they conduct their tasks on the Moon.[13] According to the Daily Mail, another image reveals three mysterious orbs floating in the lunar sky, and a transcript from the Apollo 17 mission documents the astronauts' reactions upon noticing these unexplained objects.[13] These releases are framed as “bombshell” evidence by tabloid outlets, but they are not accompanied by peer‑reviewed analysis demonstrating a secret base or confirmed extraterrestrial origin.[13]

#19
LiveScience 2025-07-04 | Declassified Apollo 12 images show UFOs on the moon

LiveScience covers declassified Apollo 12 images showing unidentified lights over the lunar horizon, describing them as an "astronaut photo of unidentified lights seen from the moon."[17] The article notes these photos were released along with many other UFO‑related files and emphasizes NASA’s stance that unidentified anomalous phenomena are real but "have nothing to do with aliens," with more likely sources being airborne debris, photo defects and optical illusions, based on a 2022 Department of Defense investigation.[17]

#20
Leading Report (X) Scientists warn of secret moon base after giant fleet of UFOs is spotted on the surface, per Daily Mail.

Scientists warn of secret moon base after giant fleet of UFOs is spotted on the surface, per Daily Mail.[2] This X post summarizes the Daily Mail article by framing the Ukrainian astronomers' claims as a "secret moon base" and "giant fleet of UFOs" on the Moon's surface.[2]

#21
Instagram Newly released UFO files have surfaced eyewitness accounts ...

An Instagram post referencing newly released UFO files claims that Apollo missions included eyewitness accounts and transcripts showing astronauts reporting unexplained objects near their lunar landers, such as a bright rotating object described during Apollo 17.[16] While it highlights that these objects were unexplained at the time, the post does not present them as evidence of a secret base on the Moon and offers no official scientific interpretation.[16]

#22
Daily Mail 2026-07-29 | NASA reveals it has captured UFO imagery as space agency chief admits 'there's life everywhere'

NASA's chief administrator confirmed in a bombshell interview that the space agency has taken images of objects which can only be described as UFOs.[14] Jared Isaacman said real imagery captured from space could not be explained away as a comet or other natural phenomenon, but while he acknowledged unexplainable photos, he added that he has never seen evidence of crashed UFOs or alien bodies recovered by the US government.[14] NASA has long maintained that it does not possess or maintain evidence any alien life or bodies, just as the White House and Pentagon have continuously stated that there is no physical proof.[14]

#23
Academia.edu Video Analysis of Three Unidentified Objects Near the Moon

Video Analysis of Three Unidentified Objects Near the Moon investigates anomalous objects captured near the lunar disc, linked by commentators to the broader "UFO Dynamics on the Moon" work of the Main Astronomical Observatory of NAS of Ukraine.[8] The analysis focuses on apparent motion and brightness changes of three unidentified objects near the Moon, but does not provide peer-reviewed confirmation of a lunar base.[8]

#24
Xaluan News Alien Presence On The Moon – Onboard Tapes And Accounts From Apollo Astronauts

According to NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the aliens have a base on the Moon and told us in no uncertain terms to get off and stay off the Moon![10] Milton Cooper, a Naval Intelligence Officer tells us that not only does the Alien Moon Base exist but the U.S. Naval Intelligence Community refers to the Alien Moon Base as “Luna,” that there is a huge mining operation going on there.[10] “The Alien base on the far side of the Moon. It was seen and filmed by the Apollo astronauts. A base, a mining operation using very large machines, and the very large alien craft described in sighting reports as mother ships exist there.” – Milton Cooper.[10] These claims are presented without corroborating official NASA evidence.[10]

#25
OutKick 2026-03-03 | CIA Program Allegedly Found Human-Like Aliens On The Moon And They Weren’t Happy

Ingo Swann claimed in 1998 that he took part in a CIA remote viewing program that discovered human-like aliens on the moon, according to the Daily Mail.[17] Swann claimed he knew the government was aware of an alien base on the moon, and the creatures could sense his remote viewing.[17] The article notes that there have been multiple trips to the moon, and "nobody has ever, as far as we know, found proof of aliens," highlighting that such base claims remain unverified anecdotes rather than accepted scientific findings.[17]

#26
International Business Times 2020-06-29 | NASA Moon Photo Shows Massive Alien City, Expert Claims

A UFO expert spotted a massive alien base in one of NASA’s images of the Moon.[8] Self-proclaimed UFO expert Scott Waring of ET Data Base discovered the alleged alien base through Google Earth, which features NASA photos of the lunar surface.[8] While scanning through images of the Moon, Waring came across a huge structure-like object sitting on a lunar crater known as De Moraes and estimated that the structure could be more than 15 kilometers long.[8]

#27
YouTube / History 2020-06-19 | 'Big Hole' on the Moon is an Alien Base? New UFO files ...

Newly declassified Pentagon UFO files have reignited debate over a possible alien presence on the Moon after a previously secret NASA Apollo 16 briefing surfaced online.[5] The recording references a mysterious "big hole" near the Van de Graaff crater and includes a startling remark that it "could be an alien star base."[5] The 55-minute NASA audio, absent from official Apollo 16 transcripts, has fueled speculation among UFO researchers and enthusiasts, but no official confirmation of an alien base is provided.[5]

#28
LLM Background Knowledge 2025-10-02 | Context on Daily Mail report about Ukrainian astronomers and alleged UFO base on the Moon

Daily Mail: Ukrainian scientists observe more than 20 UFOs on the moon "Some of the disc-shaped objects were estimated to measure between 15 and 25 miles across." "The objects displayed unusual changes in brightness and rotation." ""We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs" the team shared in the study."[12] This social-media citation summarizes Daily Mail’s reporting that scientists warned of a secret alien base on the Moon after a fleet of UFOs was spotted on the Moon’s surface.[12]

#29
Daily Express 2020-06-28 | Alien base discovered on the Moon in shock NASA images

A group of enthusiasts believes they have struck gold by uncovering NASA images from the 1971 Apollo 15 mission, which purportedly reveal a series of bases on the lunar terrain.[4] Nevertheless, skeptics, including representatives from NASA, contend that the structure and similar discoveries are merely the result of pareidolia—a psychological phenomenon where the brain misinterprets visual stimuli, leading to the perception of familiar shapes or objects where none actually exist.[4]

#30
Daily Express 2019-07-03 | Alien lunar base: ‘UFO city' spotted on Google Moon map

Recently, a self-identified UFO enthusiast posits that the LRO has made a groundbreaking discovery: evidence of a massive extraterrestrial city on the lunar surface.[12] This captivating image is, in reality, just a segment of a mosaic compiled by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that captures the Moon's surface.[12]

#31
China Sona / Society for Planetary SETI Research reprint Alien Structure and Extraterrestrial Base Found on the Backside or Far Side of the Moon

A report titled "Image Analysis of Unusual Structures on the Far Side of the Moon in the Crater Paracelsus C" published by the Society for Planetary SETI Research found mysterious structures on the backside, or far side of the Moon, and suggested they may have been built by extraterrestrial aliens and are not of human origin.[15] The page further asserts: "Therefore, yes, there are alien bases on the far side of the Moon, and they were built by the people from planet Aremo X3," a highly speculative, non-mainstream claim.[15]

Full Analysis

Debate

Two AI advocates debated this claim using the research gathered.

Argument for

P
Proponent Argues TRUE

The claim is substantively accurate: Source 1 (Daily Mail) explicitly published an article titled 'Scientists issue warning after spotting more than 20 giant UFOs near the Moon – and say it may be a secret base for alien craft,' directly reporting that scientists at Ukraine's Main Astronomical Observatory warned of a possible secret base after observing over 20 unidentified objects near the Moon's surface. This reporting is corroborated by multiple independent outlets including Source 2 (International Business Times), Source 3 (Irish Star), and Source 4 (The Free Press Journal), all confirming that the scientists stated 'We believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs,' precisely matching the claim's description of scientists warning about a secret base after spotting a fleet of UFOs on the Moon as reported by the Daily Mail.

O
Opponent Rebuttal

The Proponent commits a fallacy of appeal to authority by treating a non-peer-reviewed preprint from a single trio of researchers as an established scientific "warning" of a secret base (Source 1, Source 3). Furthermore, the Proponent conflates sensationalized tabloid headlines with verified scientific fact, ignoring that the underlying study's claims of giant craft have received zero independent confirmation or acceptance from mainstream scientific bodies (Source 4, Source 6).

Argument against

O
Opponent Argues FALSE

The claim that scientists warned of a secret lunar base after spotting a giant fleet of UFOs on the Moon's surface is fundamentally misleading, as the underlying study by Ukrainian astronomers has not been peer-reviewed or independently confirmed by any scientific body (Source 1, Source 4). Furthermore, mainstream scientific organizations and official sources maintain there is absolutely no physical or scientific evidence of alien structures or artificial bases on the Moon (Source 6, Source 22).

P
Proponent Rebuttal

The Opponent commits a category error by conflating the factual accuracy of the claim — that the Daily Mail reported scientists issued such a warning — with the scientific validity of the underlying study; the claim does not assert that a lunar base has been proven, only that scientists warned of one and that the Daily Mail reported it, both of which are unambiguously confirmed by Source 1, Source 2, and Source 3. The Opponent's appeal to mainstream scientific consensus (Source 6, Source 22) is therefore irrelevant to the veracity of the claim as stated, which is a claim about a media report and the scientists' expressed conclusions, not an assertion of established extraterrestrial fact.


Panel Review

3 specialized AI experts evaluated the evidence and arguments.

Reviewer 1 — The Logic Examiner

Focus: Inferential Soundness & Fallacies
Mostly True
8/10

Source 1 directly shows the Daily Mail reported that Ukrainian astronomers claimed to observe 20+ unidentified objects near/across the Moon and speculated that the Moon could serve as a base for UFOs, which is the core logical bridge to the claim that “scientists warned” of a secret base after a “fleet” was spotted (with similar restatements in Sources 2–4). Because the claim is about what was reported (not whether the base exists), and the evidence explicitly contains that reported speculation while also noting it is unverified, the claim is mostly true as a description of the Daily Mail story even though it does not establish the underlying extraterrestrial conclusion.

Logical fallacies

The opponent's argument risks a category error by treating lack of peer review and lack of mainstream confirmation as refuting the narrower claim about what the Daily Mail reported.The proponent's argument would become an appeal-to-authority fallacy only if it treated the preprint or tabloid coverage as proving a lunar base, but the claim at issue is about the existence of the report rather than the truth of the underlying hypothesis.
Confidence: 8/10

Reviewer 2 — The Source Auditor

Focus: Source Reliability & Independence
True
10/10

The claim is true because high-authority media outlets, including the Daily Mail (Source 1), the International Business Times (Source 2), and the Irish Star (Source 3), confirm that Ukrainian astronomers published a study warning of a potential secret lunar base after observing over 20 unidentified objects. While the underlying scientific claims are unverified and lack peer review, the claim itself is a factual description of what those scientists proposed and what the Daily Mail reported.

Weakest sources

Source 24 is unreliable because it presents uncorroborated, highly speculative conspiracy theories about alien bases on the Moon without any credible scientific backing.Source 31 is unreliable because it relies on non-mainstream, speculative claims about alien bases built by people from a fictional planet.
Confidence: 9/10

Reviewer 3 — The Precision Analyst

Focus: Claim Precision & Quantitative Accuracy
Mostly True
8/10

The claim's wording accurately matches the Daily Mail's headline and reporting (Source 1) plus the Ukrainian scientists' quoted statement that they 'believe that the moon serves as a base for UFOs' after observing more than 20 objects near and across the Moon (Sources 1-4), with no overstatement of quantities or scope. The phrasing 'warned that there is' and 'spotted on the Moon's surface' is a minor but acceptable paraphrase of the tentative belief expressed in the non-peer-reviewed preprint and the tabloid framing, so the claim is true as worded.

Confidence: 9/10

Panel summary

See the full panel summary

Create a free account to read the complete analysis.

Sign up free
The claim is
Mostly True
8/10
Confidence: 9/10 Spread: 2 pts

Only you will see this note.

Embed this verification

Every embed carries schema.org ClaimReview microdata — recognized by Google and AI crawlers.

Mostly True · Lenz Score 8/10 Lenz
“Scientists warned that there is a secret base on the Moon after a giant fleet of UFOs was spotted on the Moon's surface, as reported by the Daily Mail.”
31 sources · 3-panel audit · Verified Aug 2026
See full report on Lenz →