Russia's Hermitage Museum cancels expeditions in occupied Crimea due to "escalation of situation"

All archaeological expeditions conducted in Crimea by Russia's Hermitage Museum have been cancelled.

Source: Alexander Butyagin, a Russian archaeologist who was detained in Poland and later sent back to Russia as part of an exchange, in a comment to the Russian media

Details: A few days ago, a message appeared in a chat group for the Myrmekion expedition, which takes place in the vicinity of Kerch and which Butyagin has overseen since 1999, stating that the work has been moved to another region "due to the escalation of the situation".

The volunteers are being encouraged to work on excavations in Kuban instead of Crimea. In total, nine expeditions had been planned on the peninsula this summer.

Butyagin, who is employed by the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, headed a Russian archaeological expedition in occupied Crimea for about 12 years.

On 4 December 2025, Butyagin was detained by Poland's Internal Security Agency in Warsaw after travelling there to give a lecture on Pompeii. Ukraine had requested the arrest: in October 2024, investigators had served Butyagin with a notice of suspicion in absentia for his involvement in deliberate unlawful destruction at the Ancient City of Myrmekion, a cultural heritage site in occupied Crimea. Experts say the illegal excavations led to the partial destruction of the cultural layer and caused over UAH 200 million (US$4.5 million) worth of damage.

Background:

• On 18 December 2025, a court in Warsaw upheld Ukraine's request for the extradition of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
• On 28 April 2026, Russia and Belarus carried out an exchange of detained citizens with Poland and Moldova under a "five-for-five" formula. As a result of the exchange, Butyagin was returned to Russia.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.