WARSAW — A district court in Warsaw approved a Ukrainian request to extradite Russian archaeologist Aleksandr Butyagin following his December 2025 arrest. The court recognized the full admissibility of Ukraine's extradition request.

Butyagin was detained in Warsaw while traveling from the Netherlands, where he had been delivering lectures. Ukrainian authorities issued an international arrest warrant for the archaeologist, who is a senior researcher at Russia's State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Ukraine accuses Butyagin of damaging a cultural heritage site during archaeological work in Crimea, according to prosecutors. The alleged damage caused losses estimated at more than 200 million hryvnyas, about $4.8 million. If convicted, Butyagin could face up to five years in prison.

The charges stem from excavations carried out after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukraine and much of the international community consider Crimea to be occupied following its annexation by Russia in 2014. Under international law, including the Hague Convention, unauthorized archaeological work in occupied territories is prohibited unless required for preservation or documentation.

Butyagin has led archaeological expeditions in Crimea for decades, including at the ancient Greek site of Mirmekion near Kerch, and his work has earned academic recognition. Ukrainian officials have reported the removal of archaeological artifacts from Crimea to Russia.

Butyagin will remain in custody in Poland during any appeal. His lawyer said he would appeal the decision.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the court's decision as political. In January, the ministry summoned Poland's ambassador to Moscow to lodge a protest over Butyagin's arrest. Russian officials noted that Butyagin had traveled to other European countries without incident.

Polish authorities confirmed that Butyagin's arrest and court proceedings were conducted in accordance with legal procedures and international obligations. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Poland has supported Ukraine and consistently backed Ukraine's territorial claims.

Ukraine considers archaeological work in Crimea without its authorization illegal under domestic law and international conventions on protecting cultural heritage in occupied territories.