Prosecutor Opens War Crimes Investigation For Illegal Archaeological Dig in Occupied Crimea, With Artifacts Turned Over to the Hermitage

Prosecutors in Crimea and Sevastopol announced on Monday that they opened a war-crimes investigation into two unnamed researchers, including one associated with the State Hermitage Museum, over alleged illegal archaeological expeditions in occupied Crimea dating back to 2014. Authorities said the suspects conducted unpermitted digs at Medieval Solkhat in the city of Old Crimea, damaging culturally significant areas, and that artifacts—including elements of an ancient water system, bowls, and dish fragments—were transferred to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and catalogued as part of its collection. The charges could carry sentences of up to 12 years in prison, and the Hermitage did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case follows heightened scrutiny of Russian excavations in Crimea, which Ukraine says require Ukrainian permits, and comes after the EU sanctioned Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky in April for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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