The top managers of the Massandra national industrial and agrarian association of wine (Yalta) will be punished for the destruction of the collection of unique wine, an advisor to the Agricultural Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Liyev has said.

"We warn employees of the enterprise of criminal offence for illegal sale of the national heritage of Ukraine, which is the wine collection of Massandra. This could entail international sanctions," the ministry said, citing Liyev.

Liyev also warns potential buyers of wine from the Massandra collection.

"We warn everyone who is going to take part in the sale. These actions will be qualified under Ukrainian and international laws. We're sure that serious international and Russian collectors understand that they are at risk of being hit by international sanctions for unlawful economic actions in Crimea annexed by Russia," the advisor said.

On December 28, 2015, the press service of Massandra reported that the enterprise put around 13,000 bottles of collection wine of 1935-2005 up for sale.