Estonia to Return 274 Archaeological Artefacts to Ukraine

The Estonian government will transfer 274 archaeological artefacts to Ukraine, which were confiscated by local police and border guards during an attempt of illegal importation. Among the items set to return to Ukraine are relics from the cultures of the early Iron Age and Iron Age (from the 5th-4th centuries BC to the 7th-10th centuries AD), as reported by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

Preparations are currently underway for the ceremonial presentation of these artefacts at the Estonian History Museum, scheduled for January 23. Following the exhibition in Estonia, the ancient items will be sent back to Ukraine.

"Thanks to the robust collaboration between Estonian and Ukrainian parties, we celebrate another victory for our nation in the cultural arena. Soon, the exhibits will be handed over to Ukraine, enriching our national heritage and showcasing historical justice," stated Rostyslav Karandiyev, acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

It is noteworthy that the archaeological treasures, soon to return to Ukraine, have been kept in Estonia since 2019.

Previously, The Gaze reported that Scythian Gold—unique artefacts from four museums in Crimea, which Russia attempted to appropriate after the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014—returned to Ukraine after a decade in the Netherlands.

The artefacts were directly transferred from the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam to the National Museum of Ukrainian History in Kyiv, where historical valuables will be preserved until the complete de-occupation of Crimea.

"Our museum has been designated as a storage site for collections from Crimean museums. This means that our museum will make every effort to preserve them and provide the opportunity for citizens and guests of Ukraine to see them," noted Fedir Andrоshchuk, the museum's director-general.

The exhibition "Crimea - The Golden Island in the Black Sea" was on display at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam since January 2014. Prior to that, in 2013, the unique collection was exhibited at LVR-Landesmuseum in Bonn, Germany.

After Russia unlawfully occupied the Ukrainian peninsula, Moscow demanded the return of the collection to its controlled territory. Upon refusal, the Russian side initiated a legal process, which continued until 2023.

It was also previously reported that the Amsterdam Archaeological Museum waived Ukraine's debt for storing the "Scythian Gold" collection.