Ukrainian curator missing after museum looted

A curator from the Southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol is missing after being abducted from her home at gunpoint by Russian forces.

Director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, Leila Ibrahimova, told the New York Times Galina Andriivna Kucher was kidnapped on 30 April.

Kucher’s disappearance follows the loss of 198 priceless artefacts reportedly looted from the museum.

Russian forces removed the artefacts, consisting of gold pieces, old weapons, silver coins and medals, which are more than 2,300-years-old, after museum workers attempted to hide the items.

Kucher reportedly refused to disclose the location of the artefacts. She was released from the raid but subsequently kidnapped the following night.

Melitopol has been occupied by Russian forces since early March.