Filmed here over the city of Omsk, the meteor - or was it a rocket or test firing of a ballistic missile? - startled people over a swathe of territory.
As usual there is outlandish speculation about an alien visit, but there is genuine puzzlement and disagreement among experts over the mystery object.
Vapour trail casts ghostly spectre above Altai just minutes after rocket carrying satellite blasts off into space.
Officials ground the iconic Tu-95 bomber fleet as investigation launched into what brought down aircraft on take-off.
The meteorite that crashed to Earth in the Urals was attacked by a UFO causing it to explode and shatter, it was claimed on Thursday.
Element has a remarkable array of uses, including in space research, car parts, mobile phones, and military drones.
Scheme would allow epic journeys from London to the Japanese capital with major international crossing between Sakhalin and Hokkaido.
Reindeer herders find more craters in the far north in a deepening puzzle for scientists.
Putin fires top official in Russian Far East, and calls for Investigative Committee to check how authorities performing.