Poland detains Russian archaeologist accused by Ukraine of stealing artefacts


A view of the detention centre where Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin is held after being detained by Polish authorities, in Warsaw, Poland, December 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki

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.

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