Аннотация:According to the archival data on two large telescopes VLT and SALT in the southern galaxy NGC 5408, we have discovered two very bright sources with unusual observational manifestations. The first object is a candidate for intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs). Its bolometric luminosity is approximately ˜ 2 × 10⁴¹ erg s^( - 1), the X-ray luminosity in the bright state of the object reaches ˜ 6 × 10³⁷ erg s^( - 1). We have estimated the IMBH mass to be about 200-400 solar masses. The second object is not visible in the X-ray range, and its observational characteristics are in good agreement with the concept of very massive stars (VMS). Its bolometric luminosity is about 100 millions that of the sun. Two more VMS candidates in the galaxies NGC 1068, M 74 and NGC 2403 have been discovered as a result of the observational program carried out at the BTA telescope