Russian gangs are stealing precious artefacts from Ukraine and smuggling them back across the border under the direction of senior officials, according to reports.
Digital technology experts and an international team of academics have tracked down the thefts and have already detected patterns in the crimes, it is thought many of them have been traced back to the Kremlin.
The main target for the Russian criminals appears to be Scythian gold, which heralds from a former region of central Eurasia around where around 2,000 years ago, nomadic tribes produced works of art and gold jewellery.
Many treasures have been found at burial sites and some important ones remain in the countries where they were found, including in Kyiv, namely at the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, the Institute of Archaeology, and the State Historical Archaeological Preserve.
"The Russians have taken hold of our Scythian gold. This is one of the largest and most expensive collections in Ukraine, and today we don't know where they took it," said Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol during a national telethon, according to the news site Ukrinform.
According to Leila Ibrahimova, the director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, told the New York Times that she and other staff members secretly hid the gold and some other historic artefacts in cardboard boxes.
She said they found still managed to find and steal artefacts including at least 198 gold items.
Ibrahimova said that she was held captive for over two weeks by Russians.
Another museum employee named Galina Andriivna Kucher was abducted on April 30 after she refused to give information about the rest of the museum's Scythian collection, Eskender Bariiev, a Ukrainian activist, wrote Facebook.
Brian Daniels, an anthropologist working with archaeologists, historians and digital imaging specialists, told the Observer that there is very strong evidence this is a calculated Russian move, with specific paintings and ornaments targeted and taken out to Russia.
He continued: "These items are visually stunning, and there are now so many reports of thefts it is evident that it is a strategy. The Ukrainians, of course, are also very keen that we establish a list of stolen items.”
Daniels said it was hard to know if the monetary value was the most important factor for the Russians, or whether the objects were chosen for their cultural significance.
He also expressed concern over the safety of museum workers and security staff, particularly when they find themselves behind Russian lines.
