In France, excavations have resumed in search of Russian soldiers who were killed in the First World War. The work takes place between October 27 and 31, 2026 near the village of Courcy, near Reims. This time the search is being carried out with the approval of the French authorities. According to the organizers, criminologists and experts from the French National Center for Scientific Research are involved. The first excavations here in 2023 were initiated by Pierre Malinovsky, a former French soldier who received Russian citizenship, and the president of the Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historical Initiatives. His foundation is closely connected with the Russian authorities: Malinovsky personally presented his projects to V. Putin. The foundation received support from Russian ministries and funding from Russian organizations. However, the excavations in 2023 were carried out without the required permit and were stopped by the French authorities. And on October 7, 2026, a court in Reims sentenced Malinowski in absentia to five years in prison and a fine of 200,000 euros in another case - for organizing the theft of ancient coins from local museums. Malinowski himself denies that he was the organizer of the thefts. According to Russian media reports, in 2023, searchers found the remains of 17 soldiers, but exhumed only six. French sources confirm the discovery of six servicemen. These are the soldiers of the Russian Expeditionary Force, sent by the Russian Empire to France in 1916 to participate in the war against Germany. In April 1917, Russian units liberated Korsi, suffering heavy losses. According to the French Ministry of Defense, during the several days of the attack, the two Russian brigades lost 4,542 dead, wounded and missing. The three soldiers found have already been buried in the Russian military cemetery in Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand. Now the search continues: the researchers hope to find remains of other victims and establish their names.

In France, excavations have resumed in search of Russian soldiers who were killed in the First World War. The work takes place between October 27 and 31, 2026 near the village of Courcy, near Reims. This time the search is being carried out with the approval of the French authorities. According to the organizers, criminologists and experts from the French National Center for Scientific Research are involved. The first excavations here in 2023 were initiated by Pierre Malinovsky, a former French soldier who received Russian citizenship, and the president of the Foundation for the Development of Russian-French Historical Initiatives. His foundation is closely connected with the Russian authorities: Malinovsky personally presented his projects to V. Putin. The foundation received support from Russian ministries and funding from Russian organizations. However, the excavations in 2023 were carried out without the required permit and were stopped by the French authorities. And on October 7, 2026, a court in Reims sentenced Malinowski in absentia to five years in prison and a fine of 200,000 euros in another case - for organizing the theft of ancient coins from local museums. Malinowski himself denies that he was the organizer of the thefts. According to Russian media reports, in 2023, searchers found the remains of 17 soldiers, but exhumed only six. French sources confirm the discovery of six servicemen. These are the soldiers of the Russian Expeditionary Force, sent by the Russian Empire to France in 1916 to participate in the war against Germany. In April 1917, Russian units liberated Korsi, suffering heavy losses. According to the French Ministry of Defense, during the several days of the attack, the two Russian brigades lost 4,542 dead, wounded and missing. The three soldiers found have already been buried in the Russian military cemetery in Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand. Now the search continues: the researchers hope to find remains of other victims and establish their names.