Rare WWII artifacts unearthed by Russian search teams in historic expeditions

Ural search teams Derzhava and Malachite have uncovered rare World War II artifacts during recent expeditions. The finds include personal items, military equipment, and even aircraft wreckage. These discoveries were later displayed at a special exhibition in Yekaterinburg.

The presentation coincided with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Team Derzhava carried out expeditions across multiple regions, including Tver, Volgograd, Belgorod, and Karelia. In Karelia, they unearthed Finnish axes, helmets, and an entrenching tool. Their most significant find, however, was the wreckage of a Li-2 military transport plane, along with the remains of its crew.

Meanwhile, team Malachite focused on international expeditions in Rzhev. There, they identified 12 fallen soldiers and recovered a rare clay child’s whistle and a soldier’s identity medallion. Both teams contributed their discoveries to an exhibition at the Historical Multimedia Park Russia—My History in Yekaterinburg.

The exhibition is part of the project To Save and Return: The Medical Front of the Great Victory. After the presentation, search team members were given a guided tour and received letters of gratitude for their work. The recovered artifacts now form part of a public display honouring the 80th anniversary of the war’s end. The items provide tangible links to the past, offering insight into the lives of soldiers and civilians during the conflict. The exhibition remains open for visitors at the Yekaterinburg park.