A collection of stolen items from Ukraine is collected in the Russian Hermitage (photo)

In the online collections of the Hermitage and State Historical The Museum of Russia stores at least 110,000 archaeological finds that were taken from the territory of modern Ukraine in different historical periods. Among them, at least 5% of gold exhibits – more than 5,000 archaeological finds.

As stated in the new large-scale study “Stolen Treasures” edition of Texty.org.ua, the monuments were taken to Russia even before the declaration of Independence, although there are exceptions.

This is the first attempt to understand the scale of historical values ​​taken from Ukraine to Russia. It is also the first attempt to systematize what was exported by archaeological monuments and historical eras.

The result of the research allows us to see that many valuable finds of the Scythian, Slavic and Old Russian times, which were discovered in the Crimea, Kyiv region, Poltava region, Ekaterinoslav region, Chernihiv region, and other regions of Ukraine, got into Russian museums. Most artifacts – these are parts of ancient ceramics, tools, etc. There are also real priceless jewels made of gold and precious stones. But all the findings are recognized as historical heritage and represent scientific value for the history of Ukraine, which Russia is trying to appropriate. ” alt=”The Russian Hermitage has a collection of stolen items from Ukraine (photo)” />

110 thousand &ndash ; a far from exhaustive list of Ukrainian archaeological finds stored in the two largest Russian museums – Hermitage and the State Historical Museum.

First, not all existing museum items are listed in online catalogs. Secondly, Russian museum workers try to hide the most valuable ones, inventing different tricks in the descriptions. Therefore, this amount is only a starting point for further research.

"Exhibits mentioned in this material will be returned to Ukraine – legally impossible, – says scientist Denis Yashny, who acted as an expert in this material. – The fact is that at the time of export Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire”.

Among the most valuable Ukrainian of the finds appropriated by Russia, the finds from the Scythian burial mounds (Litaya mogila, Vytova mogila, Oguz, Kul-Oba, Solokha, Chortomlyk), ancient cities in the Crimea (Khersonesa Tavricheskogo, Nymphaea, Pantikapeia) are mentioned.

Prepared by: Nina Petrovych