Poland arrests Russian archaeologist wanted in Ukraine

Polish authorities have arrested a prominent Russian academic from St Petersburg’s world-famous Hermitage Museum who is sought by Ukraine for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and partially destroying the ancient city of Myrmekion in Crimea.

The suspect, identified under Polish law as Aleksandr B, is the head of the Ancient Archaeology of the Northern Black Sea region at the museum, according to Ukrainian prosecutors.

Ukrainian prosecutors accuse him of conducting illegal excavations at the site in Kerch between February 2014 and November 2025.

“As a result of these excavations, from 2014-2019, he illegally partially destroyed the ‘Ancient City of Myrmekion’ archaeological complex,” Prosecutor Piotr Skiba, a spokesman for the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office told the BBC, citing information from Ukrainian prosecutors.

Ukraine estimates the damage at UAH 201.6 million ($4.77 million).

Russia invaded Crimea in February 2014 and annexed it. Russia’s foreign ministry identified the man as Alexander Butyagin, an employee of the State Hermitage Museum and condemned his detention.

“This is absolute legal tyranny. We will of course demand through diplomatic channels the right to protect the interests of our citizen,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Myrmekion was an Ancient Greek colony founded by the Ionians in the first half of the Sixth Century BCE located in contemporary Crimea.

Prosecutor Skiba said the man was detained in Poland on 4 December and was later questioned by prosecutors in Warsaw, “where he refused to provide explanations”.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office issued an extradition request for Aleksandr B in November, Skiba said.

According to the request: “He searched for movable objects on cultural heritage sites without the appropriate permit to conduct excavations at the ‘Ancient City of Myrmekion’ archaeological complex in Kerch….and conducted illegal excavations at this cultural heritage site from the beginning of the temporary occupation of the territory of Crimea”.

Russia’s foreign ministry said Butyagin had been invited to deliver lectures on Pompeii in Warsaw and several other European cities.

Warsaw District Court has agreed to remand Aleksandr B in custody at the Warsaw-Białołęka detention centre for 40 days until 13 January whilst the extradition process goes ahead.

The Russian embassy in Warsaw has been informed of his arrest and pre-trial detention and are providing him with consular assistance, Prosecutor Skiba said.