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Russian Forces Loot Bronze Age Archaeological Sites Near Occupied Mariupol
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russian forces are reportedly looting archaeological treasures discovered during the construction of a bypass road near temporarily occupied Mariupol.
Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, revealed that three significant sites—the Starokrymskyi I burial mound and the Kalynivka I and II settlements—were recently uncovered, spanning nearly two hectares of historical land.
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Excavations at the Starokrymskyi I kurgan revealed two Early Bronze Age mounds built over central burials. Archaeologists also identified 19 burials in catacombs and pits within the surrounding area. However, shortly after the discovery was publicized by Russian sources, the reports were systematically scrubbed from official channels.
“The news descriptions even mentioned the artifacts found. But… the news disappeared from almost all official channels of the occupiers. Not just by deletion, but by replacing it with news about the construction of a road in Volnovakha using the same photo. Why? Because the priceless artifacts have already left for Moscow accompanied by the Rosgvardia,” Andriushchenko stated.
There are concerns that these historical relics will never reach a museum, instead being diverted into private collections.
“All the finds will simply end up in the homes of those in power. And the evidence of their origin will be rolled into the asphalt of the new highway. Once and for all. Another crime of the Russians against the history not only of Ukraine, but of humanity in general,” the head of the Center for the Study of Occupation concluded.
The pillaging of the Mariupol site reflects a broader, systematic campaign of cultural destruction. According to Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tkachytskyi, Russian forces have stolen more than 1.7 million items of cultural heritage from temporarily occupied regions.
In April 2025 interview with Ukrinform, Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tkachytskyi noted that while Ukraine is working alongside international partners to gradually track and recover these assets, a significant portion is being illicitly trafficked.
“In the occupied territories, over 1.7 million pieces of Ukrainian cultural heritage have been looted—from archaeological finds to museum collections—seized by the Russian Federation in violation of all international legal norms,” Tkachytskyi said.
He highlighted a stark shift in how these stolen historical assets are being handled today, adding that while Russia previously relocated appropriated exhibits to the Hermitage or Moscow museums, these items are now being openly sold on the black market.
Previously, troops from Ukraine's 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Dyke Pole” have relocated rare 12th-century stone statues, commonly referred to as “stone babas,” away from the frontline settlement of Novomykolaivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
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