- Category
- Latest news
Poland Arrests Top Russian Archaeologist Wanted by Ukraine for Looting Crimea Heritage Site
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Polish authorities have detained a senior Russian archaeologist from the State Hermitage Museum at Ukraine’s request, after Kyiv accused him of conducting illegal excavations in occupied Crimea that allegedly caused more than $4.75 million in damage, Polish outlet RMF FM reported on December 11.
Alexander Butyagin, who heads the department of ancient archaeology at the Hermitage, was ordered held for 40 days while Poland reviews Ukraine’s extradition request.
Every article pushes back against disinformation. Your support keeps our team in the field.
Prosecutors in Kyiv say he is wanted for the “destruction of a cultural heritage site”—specifically the ancient settlement of Myrmekion in Kerch, located in the territory Russia seized in 2014. If extradited and convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison under Ukrainian law.
According to RMF FM, Butyagin was passing through Poland, travelling between the Netherlands—where he had delivered a series of lectures—and a Balkan country.
The Kremlin responded, calling the arrest “legal arbitrariness.”
“We will, of course, demand through diplomatic channels the protection of our citizens,” said Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who also warned Russian nationals to avoid travel to Poland, “given the rampant hostility toward Russia in Warsaw.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said diplomats had already visited Butyagin in detention and were coordinating with his lawyer, who intends to appeal the temporary arrest order. Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed the case was politically motivated and threatened repercussions.
Butyagin has long overseen archaeological expeditions in Crimea, including digs at the ancient Greek sites of Myrmekion in Kerch and Kalos Limen in the peninsula’s northwest.
-826d18aed60da7462dbeeb720b783c26.png)
Ukraine says such work constitutes the unlawful exploitation of cultural assets on occupied territory—a violation of international law.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) published new evidence of Russia’s systematic looting of Ukrainian cultural heritage.
The report reveals details on more than 170 artifacts stolen from museums and archaeological sites in occupied territories—including pieces from the National Historical and Archaeological Museum “Kamiana Mohyla.”
-f223fd1ef983f71b86a8d8f52216a8b2.jpg)
