The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its resolute protest to the Russian Federation regarding the archaeological excavations carried out with gross violations of international law and legislation of Ukraine in the Almina Valley and in the city of Sevastopol within the so-called project "Crimean War".

According to the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 14 May 1954, the Russian Federation, as an occupying power, must respect cultural property located in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and take all the necessary measures to preserve it.

The recommendations of the General Conference of UNESCO of 5 December 1956 defining principles of international regulation of archaeological excavations stipulate that in the event of an armed conflict an occupying state must refrain from conducting archaeological excavations in the occupied territories.

The Ukrainian side demands the Russian side stop all illegal archeological excavations in the Almina Valley and in the city of Sevastopol and ensure proper treatment to all Ukrainian historical and cultural heritage on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in accordance with international law.