Hermitage archaeologist in Poland arrested for illegal excavations in occupied Crimea
11 December 2025 16:08
A Russian archaeologist and employee of the Hermitage Museum, Alexander Butyatin, was arrested in Poland for illegal excavations in Crimea after the annexation of the peninsula. Now the Russian will spend at least 40 days in temporary detention.
This is reported by the Polish radio station RMF FM with reference to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the investigation, Alexander Butyagin, as the head of the Hermitage archaeological expedition, conducted excavations at a cultural heritage site in the “Ancient City of Myrmecium” in Kerch without any permission from the competent authorities of Ukraine.
These actions are currently classified as a violation of Ukrainian legislation on the protection of cultural heritage, as these excavations led to the partial destruction of the Ancient City of Myrmekia in Kerch. The amount of damage is estimated at over UAH 200 million.
The Ukrainian side emphasizes that Crimea remains a region of systematic destruction of cultural heritage by Russia, including sites of great historical and cultural significance to the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian peoples.
