The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg announced on Monday that it has suspended all archaeological expeditions in Crimea due to a severe fuel shortage and ongoing Ukrainian attacks. Alexander Butyagin, head of the museum's archaeology department, stated, “The expeditions are being postponed until the situation improves.”
Background on Archaeological Controversies
Butyagin was previously set to lead an expedition in Crimea last month, which has since been relocated to the southern Krasnodar region in Russia. His involvement in excavations has drawn scrutiny, especially following accusations from Ukrainian prosecutors regarding unauthorized excavations at the ancient site of Myrmekion after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
In December 2025, Butyagin was detained in Poland under a Ukrainian extradition request. The Warsaw district court deemed the request legally admissible, but the extradition process was halted as his lawyer appealed the decision. Eventually, Butyagin was released as part of a US-brokered prisoner exchange.
Ongoing Tensions Over Crimea
The suspension of expeditions underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding archaeological activities in Crimea. Ukraine does not recognize Russian sovereignty over the region and insists that all excavations must have permits from Ukrainian authorities. In February 2025, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence agency added Butyagin to a registry tracking individuals accused of violating Ukrainian law in occupied territories.
