• CBP returned stolen cultural antiquities to Ukraine.
• Six months after being taken by US officials in New York from Ukraine.
• The items were taken in early September by CBP agents.

The cultural treasures were restored to their rightful owners six months after being taken by US officials in New York from Ukraine.

They included three metal swords and a stone axe head.

The items were received by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC, on Friday, according to a tweet.

“Honored to host the repatriation ceremony of the ancient Ukrainian (artifacts) that had been stolen from Ukraine,” the embassy said.

Ukrainian officials thanked US Customs and Border Protection officials “for helping (Ukraine) repatriate our cultural property and a part of our history,” the post added.

According to a press release from the agency, the items were taken in early September by CBP agents working at the international mail facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The CPB did not specify when or how the objects might have been taken, but its revelation came just a few weeks after the one-year mark since Russia invaded Ukraine.

According to a CBP representative, the products came in two different shipments.

According to the agency, the three swords that were attempted to be smuggled into the US came from Russia and the axe head from Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have classified each object as “Ukrainian cultural property,” it was added.

“Today @CBP returned stolen cultural antiquities to the rightful owners, the people of #Ukraine,” said Diane J. Sabatino, deputy executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Field Operations.

“We are honored to return these artifacts to @Ukraine,” Sabatino added.

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