Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve was given 14 cultural values previously stolen by Russian occupiers from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"We can figuratively say that a shipment of weapons has arrived in Ukraine. These are ancient weapons from the Eneolithic to the Middle Ages. The Ministry has decided to transfer 14 artifacts for temporary storage to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve, and then the reserve will determine the place for their display," the ministry's press service said in a statement.

It is noted that the archaeological objects were transferred by the American side to the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered them to Ukraine and handed them over to the Ministry of Culture.

"Ukraine is infinitely grateful to everyone who helps return our valuables. This time it was the result of fruitful interaction between the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, in particular Bridget Brink, the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, Oksana Markarova and Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra national reserve, as well as the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine," the department said.

In particular, it is reported that in 2022, the Ministry of Culture actively collaborated with the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine to identify archaeological objects detained by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

During this time, the American side detained more than 20 shipments with archaeological objects that may originate from the territory of Ukraine and were illegally imported into the United States.