Russian archaeologist Butyagin, deported from Poland, promises to return to illegal excavations in Crimea

Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin plans to continue illegal archaeological work in temporarily occupied Crimea after his release as part of a prisoner exchange between Poland and Belarus.

He said this in an interview with the russian media outlet Vesti.

According to Butyagin, after five months in a Polish prison, he intends to resume the expedition in the summer of 2026, if he manages to organize the necessary processes.

"I think so. The question now is more whether I will have time to organize an expedition by the summer, because there are still reports to be submitted, and since I lost five months, this is a long time. I think that, perhaps, people will come to my position. And I think that the work should be continued," he said.

Earlier, Ukraine sought Butyagin's extradition from Poland.

Recall that in December 2025, a russian scientist and director of the ancient archeology department of the Hermitage Museum was detained in Poland, who was transiting through the country. In Ukraine, he is suspected of conducting illegal archaeological work in the occupied Crimea.