The invaders discovered new sites during illegal excavations at Chersonesos

<span><span><span><span><span><span>The occupiers have unearthed new structures from the ancient city at the site of Chersonesos Taurica in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The invaders also discovered new artifacts at the site of the ancient city, which have not yet been analyzed.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>According to Vadim Maiko, director of the Russian Federation-controlled Institute of Archaeology of Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the invaders also explored the Kruse Basilica—a Christian monument located within the ancient city. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Maiko had previously reported on six illegal archaeological expeditions conducted in occupied Crimea. These excavations </span></span></span></span></span></span>are being carried out at ancient and medieval sites without Ukraine’s permission, which constitutes a violation of international law.

<span><span><span><span><span><span>On July 23, 2026, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the site “The Ancient City of Chersonesos Taurica and its Chora” on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This paved the way for a call to</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> the international community to strengthen cooperation in preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural property from the temporarily occupied Crimea.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

Юлія Калабайда