Ukraine recovers 17 paintings stolen from Verona museum

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (L) listens to explanations while looking at paintings, which were stolen by armed robbers from the Castelvecchio museum in Verona in Kiev, Ukraine, May 11, 2016. Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Mikhail Palinchak/Handout via Reuters

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine has recovered 17 paintings, including works by Peter Paul Rubens and Tintoretto, stolen by armed robbers from the Castelvecchio museum in Verona last year, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday.

Ukrainian authorities will now invite Italian experts to authenticate the paintings -- which have an estimated value of more than 16 million euros ($18.3 million) -- and prepare for them to be handed back, his office said in a statement.