The Hermitage has canceled all archaeological expeditions it had been conducting in annexed Crimea. Archaeologist Alexander Butyagin said this in an interview with the outlet Rotonda.
Butyagin had previously drawn attention because of excavations on the peninsula: he was detained in Poland and later released as part of an exchange with Russia.
According to Rotonda, a post appeared several days ago in the group of the Myrmekion archaeological expedition, which is headed by Butyagin and works near Kerch, saying that the fieldwork was being moved to another region “due to the worsening situation.”
Instead of traveling to Crimea, volunteers are being invited to excavations in the Kuban area because it is easier to reach. Rotonda notes that the Hermitage website mentions nine Crimean expeditions.
Over the past month, the Crimean authorities have faced an acute gasoline shortage. This has been linked to Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and fuel trucks on the R-280 Novorossiya highway.
Against that backdrop, disruptions to public transport emerged in cities across the peninsula. In Sevastopol, temporary power outage schedules were introduced, and water supply problems were also reported.
From June 22, children’s summer camps in Crimea were closed.