The Ukrainian authorities have recovered 17 paintings stolen last year by Moldovan, Romanian, and Italian robbers from a museum in Verona, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Wednesday, May 11.

The 17 paintings which included works by Peter Paul Rubens and Tintoretto were stolen in November 2015 in and armed robbery at the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona.

Ten citizens from the Republic of Moldova, one Romanian, and two Italians have been arrested in recent months as part of the robbery investigation, according to Mediafax.

The stolen art works, which have an estimated value of EUR 16 million, were found very close to Ukraine’s border with Moldova, according to the Ukrainian Presidency’s statement.

"Today, this brilliant operation reminds the world about the efficient struggle of Ukraine against smuggling and corruption, inter alia, smuggling of works of art," Poroshenko said.

Art heist of the century ends up in ashes: EUR 18 mln worth of famous paintings stolen from Dutch museum burned in countryside stove in Romania

Two Romanians suspected in theft of Marc Chagall painting worth EUR 1.2 mln from a yacht

editor@romania-insider.com