Renewed scholarly focus is being directed toward the legendary Yantarny Chamber following recent disclosures by Andrey Przezdomski, a writer and official spokesperson for the National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAK). Przezdomski shared these insights during an interview broadcast on the kaskad.tv television channel on November 18, 2025.
Przezdomski brings a unique background to this historical investigation, noted for his work as an archaeologist specializing in the era of the collapse of the Kingdom of Prussia, alongside prior association with the State Security agencies of the USSR and Russia. This background reportedly grants him access to classified archival materials relevant to the chamber's disappearance during World War II.
His publication, 'The Yantarny Prizrak' (The Yantarny Phantom), examines various hypotheses concerning the treasure's present location. Przezdomski characterized the Kaliningrad region, where Yantarny is located, as an archaeological 'large white spot,' asserting that key historical territories, particularly those of the former Kingdom of Prussia, remain inadequately investigated. The village of Yantarny, historically known as Palmnicken, has been the center of industrial amber mining since 1827, concentrating approximately 90% of the world's amber reserves, extracted by the Kaliningrad Amber Combine.
The expert suggested that previous official search efforts were significantly hindered by technological constraints and restricted access to necessary archives. Furthermore, these expeditions were complicated by the presence of misleading informants, often individuals seeking temporary release from confinement. Przezdomski indicated that the pursuit of the chamber has been a long-standing personal dedication, often requiring him to begin research as early as 3 AM.
The historical context of the region is marked by conflict; Palmnicken was founded in 1234 by the Teutonic Knights and later became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701 before being captured by the Red Army on April 7, 1945, and subsequently renamed Yantarny. Przezdomski maintains that specialized knowledge regarding historical subterranean structures has persisted despite the dissolution of the Soviet Union, suggesting that deep basements warrant serious investigation.
In contrast to the search for the intact artifact, experts in June 2025 proposed an alternative scenario: that the chamber’s panels may have been dispersed and interred individually during the intense fighting during the storming of Königsberg. This view is supported by the prior location of separate components, such as the Florentine plastina. Meanwhile, a reconstructed Yantarny Chamber, detailing the history of amber mining and featuring amber art objects, is currently the primary exhibit within the Catherine Palace located in Tsarskoye Selo, near St. Petersburg.
Przezdomski emphasized the necessity of developing a comprehensive, strategic framework for exploration in the Kaliningrad region to move beyond the limitations of earlier investigations. This renewed focus on underground exploration in a region rich with history—from the Teutonic Knights to Soviet-era security agencies—suggests a potential shift in the methodology for seeking the lost treasure.
