Kyivan Rus coins, icons, Trypillian vases: Who and how smuggles Ukraine's national heritage

Ukraine has suffered from the theft of cultural treasures throughout its history. During the war with Russia, attempts to export unique artifacts from Ukraine illegally have not ceased. On the contrary, the number of such incidents has increased.

Before February 24, 2022, customs operated differently. Dozens of planes departed daily from airports to various countries worldwide. The northeastern borders near Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv were open. With the outbreak of the war, the airspace and some borders were closed. Previously, contraband was often smuggled to Russia, where the heritage was either auctioned off or blatantly claimed as Russian at the state level.

Smugglers have adapted to the realities of war, seeking alternative channels for illegal trade, including postal shipments.

"Those involved in this illegal activity have a keen sense of the weak spots they can exploit and know how to blend into the general flow of parcels," explains Serhii Siliuk, Head of Kyiv Customs.

Video: How unique historical artifacts are smuggled out of Ukraine during the war (youtube.com/RBC-Ukraine).

Cultural assets smuggled more frequently during war

"Ukrposhta (Ukraine's national post - ed.) now processes 150,000 shipments per day - around 3 million per month. In peak months, it's even higher. Many Ukrainians have moved abroad due to the war. With the holidays approaching, a lot of people are ordering items and sending them to relatives. This means we could see up to 4.5 million shipments per month now, which is quite significant," says the Head of Kyiv Customs.

All packages undergo "customs clearance" before being sent abroad. Many valuable items are hidden inside stuffed toys, household appliance casings, or practically any package.

Previously, Ukrposhta handled 36–38 million parcels annually. With the onset of the full-scale war, this figure dropped to 15 million. Gradually, volumes recovered, and by 2024, the number of postal shipments had returned to pre-invasion levels, according to customs officials.

With the rise in shipment numbers, cases of illegal export of cultural and other valuables have also increased. In earlier years, about 20–30 such cases were documented annually. In 2024, 153 protocols were filed.

Photo: "Those involved in illegal activities have a keen sense of how to blend into the general flow of parcels," says Serhii Siliuk, Head of Kyiv Customs.

However, the number of recorded cases does not reflect the full scope of how many unique items are actually being smuggled out. A single package may contain 10 or even 20 artifacts. In 2023, 108 protocols were issued, while 2,600 items were confiscated.

"There's a distinction between filing an administrative protocol against a customs violator and detaining a postal shipment where we cannot identify the individual responsible. In such cases, the package is transferred to customs storage under an act," explains an official.

Customs officials noted an alarming trend: more items valuable to the state were being smuggled out during the war. Recognizing this issue, they increased staffing for those handling international shipments.

It's also crucial to discern whether the items are genuinely valuable, as fakes and ordinary goods often resemble "museum pieces" but turn out to be flea market finds.

After 90 days in customs storage, the agency gains the right to manage the items. A list of these items is then compiled and sent to the State Customs Service, which collaborates with the Ministry of Culture to transfer the cultural assets to expert institutions or museums.

For expert evaluations of confiscated items, the customs engages specialists from institutions such as the National Museum of Ukrainian History, the National Military History Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum.

Trypillian vase and extinct birds: Unique artifacts seized by customs

Scythians, Sarmatians, the Trypillian culture, Greek settlements in southern Ukraine, and the Cossack era - various peoples throughout history have left their legacy in Ukraine. The older and rarer the artifact, the higher its value on the black market.

At customs storage facilities, seized artifacts await transfer to Ukrainian museums, where they will become exhibits.

Photo: Ancient coins removed from postal items

In one numbered bag lies a thousand-year-old key. Others contain silver coins from the Aztecs and Mayans, minted in Latin America. There's also gold and silver from 400–500 years ago, alongside 9th- and 10th-century coins.

One shelf houses icons created in Ukrainian villages during the 19th century. Another holds artifacts from World War II, including medals, German helmets, and more.

"On this table alone, we see items spanning many eras. This weapon is over a thousand years old and crafted by Kyiv, Scandinavian, and Polovtsian blacksmiths. These historical witnesses were simply being transported in a bag," says Oleksii Dirochka, Deputy Head of Kyiv Customs.

He points out various blades, noting their significance: "Blades were far more valuable than axes at the time. This particular blade from Kyivan Rus was used in rituals, not battle. There's also a rare Viking axe from Northern Europe."

Dirochka mentions that media, films, and reports often spark interest in such items. For instance, after a Netflix series about Vikings was released, there was a surge in orders for such "goods" from Ukraine to Northern Europe.

One notable item in storage is a 250-million-year-old crab.

"I won't pull it out; the staff responsible for it would be horrified," the Deputy Head of Kyiv Customs jokes. There are even older artifacts - fossils with imprints of ancient creatures or insects.

Photo: A crab that is 250 million years old

It also happens that certain objects only resemble cultural values. About a hundred years ago, there was a trend to engrave the name Stradivari on violins. But in this way, the masters of that time only tried to increase the value of this thing. But such instruments have nothing in common with a real Stradivari. These are also interesting things for history, but they are evaluated differently, and the approaches to them differ.

Next to other things in the warehouse are books that look at least 400 years old.

"Many people have a custom to give books, especially old ones. But sometimes it is completely dangerous to keep such things at home," says Oleksiy, "Because there is evidence that these books were held in the hands of a priest when he was giving funerals for those who died from the bubonic plague. And who knows, maybe spores of a disease that humanity has long since overcome remained on this paper!".

Often, smugglers and their accomplices deliberately "age" things in order to earn more. They treat it with chemicals to make it look like an antique. In reality, such an "antique" may turn out to be an ordinary piece of metal, for which inexperienced buyers pay several thousand dollars.

Olkesii shows some exhibits that only look like antiques.

"And then the dealers deceive European consumers, selling them it under the guise of something unique," he says.

Photo: Rare birds of extinct species were "ordered" to the United Arab Emirates

Sometimes, people try to take things across the border that many people don't even know exist. It's surprising why anyone would still need all this in the 21st century.

For example, in Europe, people still order forbidden paraphernalia from the times of Nazi Germany from modern jewelers and other craftsmen. The deputy head of customs suggests that the customers are modern neo-Nazis.

"Have you heard of the Ahnenerbe? It's a nationalistic, secret mystical organization that once brought Hitler to power. And they order copies of such items for ancient rituals. They put ancient lists inside them, put on ritual robes, and performed rituals," says Oleksii.

They also tried to transport unique birds across the border. Both live and fake ones. What's unfortunate is that the rarer the bird, the higher the interest in it. And if it is an extinct bird listed in the so-called "Black Book", then they "hunt" for it even more actively.

"Three years ago, we stopped the supply channel of live birds to the United Arab Emirates. They were drugged, tied up, and then a person carried them in a suitcase through the airport that was operating at that time. Arab sheiks bought up the birds. It's just terrible to imagine the damage all this is doing to the ecosystem," says Oleksii.

Photo: Nazi paraphernalia banned in Ukraine and Europe

Among the most notable artifacts intercepted was a 7,500-year-old Trypillian vase destined for the US.

"It features a unique ornament. Remarkably, the paint has not faded over millennia. The Trypillians, an agrarian culture discovered by Vikentii Khvoika, thrived in Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania," the Deputy Customs Head concludes.

Cultural treasures beyond monetary value

Customs officials often emphasize the inestimable value of the artifacts they intercept. These objects are not merely items of trade but invaluable links to Ukraine's rich and diverse history.

One standout example is a 7,500-year-old Trypillian vase. "How can one put a price on such an artifact?" asks customs official Serhii Siliuk. "Its historical significance far outweighs any monetary valuation. It represents the legacy of one of the world's oldest cultures and is a testament to Ukraine's ancient heritage."

Artifacts like this are priceless not just for their age or craftsmanship but because they encapsulate historical narratives that no longer have a tangible connection due to illegal excavation practices.

Photo: Trypillian vase, which is over 7,500 years old

Due to black-market practices, many intercepted artifacts have lost much of their historical significance. Oleksii Dirochka, Deputy Head of Kyiv Customs, explains, "Items like these swords, which are over a thousand years old, could have provided invaluable information about their excavation sites. But without proper documentation and legal excavation, we lose context. It's a double crime: theft of the object and the erasure of its story."

By law, all archaeological finds in Ukraine belong to the state, ensuring their preservation and study. Yet, black-market looters often rob these treasures of their cultural and academic value for short-term financial gain.

Kyiv Customs is working to digitize seized artifacts to safeguard their legacy. Using 3D modeling, experts can virtually examine items like Trypillian vases, icons, and ancient weapons.

"We aim to implement an innovative approach," says Dirochka. "Our goal is to create a registry of rescued cultural assets. This would be a global first for customs operations. The Ministry of Culture is compiling a registry of lost artifacts, and we want to complement it with one for saved artifacts."

Photo: Swords from the time of Kyivan Rus and other artifacts were transported in a regular package

"Kyiv Digital" recently digitized some interesting exhibits for the customs, which are now being shown on a large screen in the lobby of the main building.

"We plan to continue digitization. These will be 3D models of objects. They will have a QR code on them. You scan it and open the exhibit on your smartphone, turn it from all sides, look at it, and get acquainted with the description and characteristics. This is also a way to transparency of processes," adds Serhii Silyuk.

Not every cultural value is prohibited from being exported from Ukraine. The Ministry of Culture makes the final decision, which must be contacted with the conclusion of the state art expert examination and obtain a certificate of the right to export. Then the customs will not have any questions.

Russia as main consumer of stolen heritage

"We understand that in these smuggling flows during the war, the main consumer of exported valuables is Russia. The state that is currently at war with us and is stealing our heritage. They never had their own history, they never had their own developed civilization. They appropriated everything that was foreign to them and passed it off as their own. This continues, nothing has changed," states the Head of the Kyiv Customs Service.

Photo: Viking artefact

The lands of modern Ukraine have witnessed different eras and cultures. Thanks to this, they have a huge number of treasures. Testimonies from different historical periods end up in the United States, Australia, Poland, and France.

"But in the end, in most cases, the main consumer is Russian citizens who buy such things at auctions. Some of them are then taken to Russian museums and generally to the territory of the occupying state," he adds.

Customs officers began to investigate this topic more deeply, talking to collectors who have been working on the market for a long time. They confirmed that in the USA, there are auctions focused solely on Russians.

Photo: Ukrainian icons are also being illegally exported from the country

The war and occupation of some regions exacerbate the problem hundreds of times because Russia is taking museum exhibits to its territory. Due to the lack of accounting in the occupied territories, there is a possibility of losing important historical objects.

It is currently unknown what is happening to cultural and historical values ​​in the occupied territories, say the interlocutors. Some artifacts will end up on black markets or auctions, particularly in Russia, where they will be resold. Others are openly exhibited in museums and passed off as their own.

"All these thefts are large-scale crimes against Ukraine, which must be investigated, and those guilty must be held accountable," concludes Serhii Silyuk.