National police seize millions of dollars worth of antiquities and unique museum exhibits
Among those seized are antique weapons and weapons, ornaments and clothing details, utensils, coins and icons. In addition, one of the items seized is a rare sword of the Huns, decorated with gold and almandins. Stylistically, it resembles the famous Hun tiara from the Melitopol Museum, which was stolen by the Russian invaders.
The collection of various artifacts was seized by the operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police together with law enforcement colleagues from one of the members of the group involved in illegal activities related to the financing of the “DPR”, the withdrawal of funds from Ukraine to the Russian Federation, as well as conducting business in the territory of the occupied Crimea. In the office of this citizen on the territory of Kyiv, law enforcement officers discovered a large number of museum exhibits — armor of the 16-19th centuries, including helmets of Polish hussars, such as Morion, Iranian helmets, coins from antiquity to the late Middle Ages.
In addition, Byzantine gold enamel-decorated icon depicting the archangel Michael 11th-12th centuries, ancient and Scythian antiquities, icons, cold weapons of the 14th-19th centuries, First and Second World Wars, swords of the era of the Great Migration, etc., were recovered.
Especially rare was the Hun sword, decorated with gold and almandins. With it, gold linings are removed. According to the information of specialists involved in the search - experts of the National Museum of History of Ukraine, such finds have not yet happened to archaeologists and there are no such swords in any Ukrainian museum. Stylistically, it resembles the Hun tiara from the Melitopol Museum, which was stolen by the Russian invaders. Most of the recovered units of historical artifacts belong to the eras from the Bronze Age to the late Middle Ages.
According to preliminary data, the collection is worth several million dollars. Part of it was probably stolen from museums in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, but the origin of the values still needs to be established. The recovered archaeological objects will be transferred to the National Museum of History of Ukraine for safekeeping.
Pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings is carried out by SBI investigators under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
National Police of Ukraine
