Ukraine has learned with regret that, contrary to a prior and entirely just decision by a Polish court, a Russian citizen reasonably suspected of committing a crime on Ukrainian territory—specifically the removal of cultural property from Crimea—was ultimately not extradited to Ukraine.

It is evident that the Russian side will cynically exploit this legal-political episode in its attempts to justify the occupation of Crimea and exploit Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories by Russian citizens.

Ukraine consistently insists on holding all Russian entities involved in the occupation and the war effort to actual legal account. Regarding the Butyagin case and other similar situations, Ukraine will continue to employ the appropriate legal mechanisms and will also work within the jurisdictions of our partners.