"Why Do They Steal?" is a documentary narrative podcast uncovering the centuries-long theft of Ukrainian cultural treasures by russia. The appropriation of Scythian gold, the heritage of Ukrainian Cossacks, and ancient mosaics and frescoes from Ukrainian cathedrals. Across five episodes, we delve into how these valuables ended up in russian museums and strategies for their potential return.

In the first episode, we explore the Scythians, a nation revered by Herodotus, 'the father of history'. We examine a unique kurgan in the currently russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol and delve into the russians' kidnapping of the Director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History. Additionally, we discuss the Scythian gold collection found in the Melitopol Kurgan and examine russia's attempts to appropriate not only relics but the entire Scythian culture.

The material was prepared with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The material reflects the position of the authors and does not necessarily coincide with the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.

"Why Do They Steal?" is the English adaptation of a Ukrainian podcast with the same title, released in Autumn 2022.

Production: 435 FILMS

Showrunners: Kornii Hrytsyuk and Anna Palenchuk

Scriptwriters: Kornii Hrytsyuk and Yurii Marchenko

Producer and Narrator: Anna Palenchuk

Sound Supervisor: Vasyl Yavtushenko

Assistant: Iryna Terletska

Project Coordinator: Olena Kirichek

English Translation: Anastasiia Perun

English Voice-Over: Alina Zevakova, Rob Feldman, Kateryna Hordiienko

English Voice-Over Recording: Pavlo Melnyk, Alla Shmatok

Editors: Oleksandr Vitraniuk, Vadym Stepanov

Podcast Cover Designer: Anton Vasyliev

Ukrainska Pravda:

Head of Podcasts: Fedir Popadiuk

YouTube Manager: Dmytro Moskvych

Guests of the Podcast:

Anton Drobovych

Yurii Boltryk

Leila Ibrahimova

Oleksandr Liubyshko

Ivan Sydor

Yurii Losytskyi

Yevheniia Kuleba

Elmira Ablyalimova

Diana Klochko

Andriy Karnaukhov

Liudmyla Strokova

Maksym Blakytnyi

Olga Kovalevska