Ukraine received from the USA ancient sabers from captured territories, which the Russian Federation tried to bring to America
The United States handed Ukraine four medieval sabers that were stolen by Russia from the temporarily occupied territories and confiscated by American border guards during an attempt to send them from the Russian Federation to the United States. The handover ceremony took place at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN with the participation of the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi and the US Deputy Secretary of National Security for Strategy, Policy and Planning Robert Silvers.
“Each returned artifact is not only a legal restoration of justice, but also a confirmation of our cultural identity. It inspires us to continue the fight for our heritage. For example, these sabers are not just weapons, but a symbol of a deep historical connection with our ancestors and our national strength.”, – said in a comment to Ukrinform Tochytskyi.
The minister also emphasized that the return of these artifacts is a reminder of the importance of protecting Ukrainian identity and cultural heritage in the current conditions.
Robert Silvers, handing over the sabers, said that these artifacts date back to the period between the 9th and 13th centuries. They were discovered by US Customs and Border Protection officers at a post office in Newark, New Jersey. During the inspection of the package, declared as a “barbecue set”, employees suspected a discrepancy and handed it over for further examination.
“Then our experts turned to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in Kyiv, handed over the photos, and it was established that these are objects of cultural heritage, treasures of Ukraine’s distinctive past.”, – said the official.
In total, the United States has identified 11 cultural heritage sites that likely belong to Ukraine. Currently, the rest of the artifacts are being identified by Ukrainian specialists using the provided photos.
Starting in June 2022, US Customs and Border Protection is conducting an operation to intercept cultural property that is being smuggled from Russia to the United States.
