Poland detains Russian archaeologist accused by Ukraine of stealing artefacts

Reuters ^ | Dec 11, 2025 | Alan Charlish

[Reverend Wright]

WARSAW, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Poland has detained a Russian archaeologist whom Ukraine accuses of unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, Polish authorities said on Thursday, prompting outrage from Moscow which demanded his immediate release. Ukraine, which has moved some museum pieces abroad for their safety, accuses Russia of taking precious historical items from Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and from other parts of the country following Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.

[Reverend Wright]

This is an absolutely foolish escalation by Poland. And given Russia's high priority in getting their people back, and willingness to retaliate, I would be getting out right now if I was a Polish non-Diplomat in Russia.

As it is, these charges are nonsense. Alexander Butyagin is a respected archeologist who has worked in Crimea and other places as a Ukrainian for more than two decades. He is not some kind of tomb robber or grave looter.

And I see this as an absolutely foolish provocation by Poland to try to keep this going, rather than end this war.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Did you notice: "The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, now located in the Ukrainian city of Kherson...."

As the war cotninues, there will be more "relocations" of these "offices" it is assured. Poland, in acting as an agent for a non-EU nation, has by degree put itself deeper into the whole mess. Over an archeologist.

[Grzegorz 246]

“This is an absolutely foolish escalation by Poland.”

Oy vey !