Putin's archaeologist caused Ukraine damages of 200 million while conducting excavations in Crimea.

Ukrainian law enforcement has gathered evidence against a Russian citizen who looted Ukrainian cultural heritage in occupied Crimea. This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.

The case concerns Oleksandr Butyagin, head of the archaeology sector at the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Experts estimated the damages caused to Ukraine from his 'archaeological expedition' to exceed 200 million UAH.

In 2014, during an expedition personally attended by Putin, illegal excavations were conducted on an object of Ukrainian cultural heritage in Crimea. The group of suspects removed the 'cultural layer' of the Ukrainian peninsula to a depth of 2 meters, conducting illegal excavations over a hundred square meters.

The main focus of the group's activities is the archaeological complex 'Ancient City of Myrmecium' in Kerch.

Expert analysis confirmed that the Russians inflicted damage on the Ukrainian historical site and caused significant losses.

Based on the evidence obtained, the archaeologist has been notified of suspicion of committing a crime of illegal archaeological searches, destruction, damage, or vandalism of cultural heritage objects with the aim of searching for valuable items.

The question of issuing an international warrant for Butyagin is being considered with the goal of bringing him to criminal responsibility for crimes against the millennial culture of the Ukrainian state.

We remind you that Lee Won Chol, who raised the Russian flag over the Luhansk regional state administration in 2014, has also been suspected. He participated in mass riots, organized pro-Russian rallies and fights, and incited fear among local patriots.