Illegal Archaeological Activities in Occupied Crimea and Kherson
Russian archaeologists persist in conducting unauthorized excavations across occupied Crimea and Kherson regions, operating without consent from Ukrainian authorities. These unauthorized digs have raised concerns among Ukrainian law enforcement, who have repeatedly reported violations by Russian researchers. Despite the lack of legal permits, findings from these excavations are still published in academic journals, including articles by archaeologist Mykola Vinokurov featured in volume 31 of the 'Antiquities of Bosporus' series from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Between 2024 and 2025, excavations at the southern temenos of Artesian and nearby sites uncovered newly identified ritual structures such as altars, sacrificial tables, and botroses. Vinokurov also documented a 3rd-century AD earthquake, a newly discovered sacrificial altar dedicated to chthonic deities, and the Temple of Zeus Genarch with an inscription honoring King Pharnaces. However, these digs remain illegal under Ukrainian law, as Russia established its own archaeological institutions in Crimea following occupation, bypassing Ukraine's Ministry of Culture permissions.
Law Enforcement Actions and Discoveries of Cultural Artifacts
In 2025, Ukraine’s National Police formally charged a Russian archaeologist for organizing excavations within the Ancient City of Panticapaeum complex in Kerch without authorization. Further, in 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) accused two archaeologists of unauthorized digs that damaged cultural layers and resulted in the seizure of artifacts. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), 110 cultural artifacts were publicly reported in 2025 as having been uncovered during unlawful excavations in areas including Artesian, Chersonesus, and the Genoese fortress of Chembalo.
In June 2026, Russian archaeologists announced the discovery of a burial mound between the villages of Vynohradnyi Klyn and Sokolohirne in the Henichesk district of Kherson Oblast, named the Vynohradnyi Klyn 1 Kurgan. Measuring approximately 0.5 meters high, the mound’s dating spans from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. However, Ukrainian records predating the Russian occupation already identified this kurgan as an archaeological monument, listing it among Kherson’s cultural heritage sites since 2000, based on a 1983 decision.
On July 1, 2026, the occupation-controlled Ministry of Culture of Kherson issued an order officially including the Vynohradnyi Klyn 1 Kurgan in its cultural heritage registry. This move sparked questions from the Ukrainian side, which had been notified about Russian archaeological activities in the Henichesk district. Publications in Russian academic journals of the RAS document the systematic excavation of Ukrainian cultural heritage under occupation, underscoring the urgent need to safeguard these sites.
The ongoing unauthorized archaeological work by Russian teams in occupied Ukrainian territories raises significant concerns about the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural legacy. Despite Ukrainian law enforcement efforts to halt these breaches, violations of heritage protection laws persist, threatening not only invaluable archaeological sites but also the nation’s cultural identity. This situation calls for increased international attention and support to ensure the protection of Ukraine’s cultural treasures.