diff --git a/data/base/script/campaign/libcampaign_includes/artifact.js b/data/base/script/campaign/libcampaign_includes/artifact.js
index 6924fdd5188..637d6598106 100644
--- a/data/base/script/campaign/libcampaign_includes/artifact.js
+++ b/data/base/script/campaign/libcampaign_includes/artifact.js
@@ -221,6 +221,12 @@ function __camPickupArtifact(artifact)
 		camTrace("Artifact", artifact.id, "is not managed");
 		return;
 	}
+	if (Object.hasOwn(ai, "pickedUp") && ai.pickedUp === true)
+	{
+		camTrace("Already picked up the artifact", __ALABEL);
+		return;
+	}
+	ai.pickedUp = true;
 
 	camTrace("Picked up", ai.tech);
 	playSound(cam_sounds.artifactRecovered, artifact.x, artifact.y, artifact.z);
diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index e5bad4c6a4e..b24dae91815 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
 #include "multigifts.h"
 #include "wzscriptdebug.h"
 #include "gamehistorylogger.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 #include <array>
 
 #if defined(__clang__)
@@ -3379,7 +3380,7 @@ bool saveGame(const char *aFileName, GAME_TYPE saveType, bool isAutoSave)
 	size_t			fileExtension;
 	char			CurrentFileName[PATH_MAX] = {'\0'};
 
-	triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_SAVING);
+	executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_SAVING); });
 
 	ASSERT_OR_RETURN(false, aFileName && strlen(aFileName) > 4, "Bad savegame filename");
 	sstrcpy(CurrentFileName, aFileName);
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 4484d4626bd..0d4212f9d67 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
 #include "seqdisp.h"
 #include "version.h"
 #include "hci/teamstrategy.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <unordered_map>
@@ -1895,7 +1896,7 @@ bool stageThreeInitialise()
 
 	if (getLevelLoadType() == GTYPE_SAVE_MIDMISSION || getLevelLoadType() == GTYPE_SAVE_START)
 	{
-		triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_LOADED);
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_LOADED); });
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -1909,7 +1910,7 @@ bool stageThreeInitialise()
 			gInputManager.contexts().set(InputContext::DEBUG_MISC, InputContext::State::ACTIVE);
 		}
 
-		triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_INIT);
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_GAME_INIT); });
 		playerBuiltHQ = structureExists(selectedPlayer, REF_HQ, true, false);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/keybind.cpp b/src/keybind.cpp
index 287404790ce..ac7bf669215 100644
--- a/src/keybind.cpp
+++ b/src/keybind.cpp
@@ -387,49 +387,61 @@ void kf_CloneSelected(int limit)
 		return; // no-op
 	}
 
-	mutating_list_iterate(apsDroidLists[selectedPlayer], [limit, &sTemplate](DROID* d)
+	bool selectedAnything = false;
+	const DROID* droidToClone = nullptr;
+	for (const DROID* d : apsDroidLists[selectedPlayer])
 	{
-		if (d->selected)
+		if (!d->selected)
 		{
-			enumerateTemplates(selectedPlayer, [psDroid = d, &sTemplate](DROID_TEMPLATE* psTempl) {
-				if (psTempl->name.compare(psDroid->aName) == 0)
-				{
-					sTemplate = psTempl;
-					return false; // stop enumerating
-				}
-				return true;
-			});
-
-			if (!sTemplate)
+			continue;
+		}
+		selectedAnything = true;
+		enumerateTemplates(selectedPlayer, [psDroid = d, &sTemplate](DROID_TEMPLATE* psTempl) {
+			if (psTempl->name.compare(psDroid->aName) == 0)
 			{
-				debug(LOG_ERROR, "Cloning vat has been destroyed. We can't find the template for this droid: %s, id:%u, type:%d!", d->aName, d->id, d->droidType);
-				return IterationResult::BREAK_ITERATION;
+				sTemplate = psTempl;
+				return false; // stop enumerating
 			}
-
-			// create a new droid army
-			for (int i = 0; i < limit; i++)
-			{
-				Vector2i pos = d->pos.xy() + iSinCosR(40503 * i, iSqrt(50 * 50 * (i + 1)));  // 40503 = 65536/φ (A bit more than a right angle)
-				DROID* psNewDroid = buildDroid(sTemplate, pos.x, pos.y, d->player, false, nullptr);
-				if (psNewDroid)
-				{
-					addDroid(psNewDroid, apsDroidLists);
-					triggerEventDroidBuilt(psNewDroid, nullptr);
-				}
-				else if (!bMultiMessages)
-				{
-					debug(LOG_ERROR, "Cloning has failed for template:%s id:%d", getID(sTemplate), sTemplate->multiPlayerID);
-				}
-			}
-			std::string msg = astringf(_("Player %u is cheating a new droid army of: %d × %s."), selectedPlayer, limit, d->aName);
-			sendInGameSystemMessage(msg.c_str());
-			Cheated = true;
-			audio_PlayTrack(ID_SOUND_NEXUS_LAUGH1);
-			return IterationResult::BREAK_ITERATION;
+			return true;
+		});
+		if (!sTemplate)
+		{
+			debug(LOG_ERROR, "Cloning vat has been destroyed. We can't find the template for this droid: %s, id:%u, type:%d!", d->aName, d->id, d->droidType);
+			break;
 		}
+		droidToClone = d;
+		// Break out of the loop if we've successfully found the associated droid template.
+		break;
+	}
+	if (!selectedAnything)
+	{
 		debug(LOG_INFO, "Nothing was selected?");
-		return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
-	});
+		return;
+	}
+	if (!sTemplate)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+	ASSERT(droidToClone != nullptr, "No droid to clone found");
+	// create a new droid army
+	for (int i = 0; i < limit; i++)
+	{
+		Vector2i pos = droidToClone->pos.xy() + iSinCosR(40503 * i, iSqrt(50 * 50 * (i + 1)));  // 40503 = 65536/φ (A bit more than a right angle)
+		DROID* psNewDroid = buildDroid(sTemplate, pos.x, pos.y, droidToClone->player, false, nullptr);
+		if (psNewDroid)
+		{
+			addDroid(psNewDroid, apsDroidLists);
+			triggerEventDroidBuilt(psNewDroid, nullptr);
+		}
+		else if (!bMultiMessages)
+		{
+			debug(LOG_ERROR, "Cloning has failed for template:%s id:%d", getID(sTemplate), sTemplate->multiPlayerID);
+		}
+	}
+	std::string msg = astringf(_("Player %u is cheating a new droid army of: %d × %s."), selectedPlayer, limit, droidToClone->aName);
+	sendInGameSystemMessage(msg.c_str());
+	Cheated = true;
+	audio_PlayTrack(ID_SOUND_NEXUS_LAUGH1);
 }
 
 void kf_MakeMeHero()
diff --git a/src/loop.cpp b/src/loop.cpp
index da0ac6e0de9..3a1a29deb90 100644
--- a/src/loop.cpp
+++ b/src/loop.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
 #include "clparse.h"
 #include "gamehistorylogger.h"
 #include "profiling.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 
 #include "warzoneconfig.h"
 
@@ -515,7 +516,7 @@ static void gameStateUpdate()
 
 	if (!paused && !scriptPaused())
 	{
-		updateScripts();
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { updateScripts(); });
 	}
 
 	// Update abandoned structures
@@ -544,33 +545,40 @@ static void gameStateUpdate()
 		//update the current power available for a player
 		updatePlayerPower(i);
 
-		mutating_list_iterate(apsDroidLists[i], [](DROID* d)
-		{
-			droidUpdate(d);
-			return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([i]() {
+			mutating_list_iterate(apsDroidLists[i], [](DROID* d)
+			{
+				droidUpdate(d);
+				return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+			});
 		});
-		mutating_list_iterate(mission.apsDroidLists[i], [](DROID* d)
-		{
-			missionDroidUpdate(d);
-			return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([i]() {
+			mutating_list_iterate(mission.apsDroidLists[i], [](DROID* d)
+			{
+				missionDroidUpdate(d);
+				return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+			});
 		});
-
 		// FIXME: These for-loops are code duplication
-		mutating_list_iterate(apsStructLists[i], [](STRUCTURE* s)
-		{
-			structureUpdate(s, false);
-			return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([i]() {
+			mutating_list_iterate(apsStructLists[i], [](STRUCTURE* s)
+			{
+				structureUpdate(s, false);
+				return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+			});
 		});
-		mutating_list_iterate(mission.apsStructLists[i], [](STRUCTURE* s)
-		{
-			structureUpdate(s, true); // update for mission
-			return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([i]() {
+			mutating_list_iterate(mission.apsStructLists[i], [](STRUCTURE* s)
+			{
+				structureUpdate(s, true); // update for mission
+				return IterationResult::CONTINUE_ITERATION;
+			});
 		});
 	}
 
 	missionTimerUpdate();
 
-	proj_UpdateAll();
+	executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { proj_UpdateAll(); });
 
 	for (FEATURE *psCFeat : apsFeatureLists[0])
 	{
@@ -641,7 +649,7 @@ GAMECODE gameLoop()
 	{
 		// Receive NET_BLAH messages.
 		// Receive GAME_BLAH messages, and if it's time, process exactly as many GAME_BLAH messages as required to be able to tick the gameTime.
-		recvMessage();
+		executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { recvMessage(); });
 
 		bool selectedPlayerIsSpectator = bMultiPlayer && NetPlay.players[selectedPlayer].isSpectator;
 		bool multiplayerHostDisconnected = bMultiPlayer && !NetPlay.isHostAlive && NetPlay.bComms && !NetPlay.isHost; // do not fast-forward after the host has disconnected
@@ -694,10 +702,16 @@ GAMECODE gameLoop()
 		NETflush();  // Make sure that we aren't waiting too long to send data.
 	}
 
-	unsigned before = wzGetTicks();
-	GAMECODE renderReturn = renderLoop();
-	pie_ScreenFrameRenderEnd(); // must happen here for proper renderBudget calculation
-	unsigned after = wzGetTicks();
+	unsigned before, after;
+	GAMECODE renderReturn;
+	executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([&before, &after, &renderReturn]()
+	{
+		before = wzGetTicks();
+		renderReturn = renderLoop();
+		pie_ScreenFrameRenderEnd(); // must happen here for proper renderBudget calculation
+		after = wzGetTicks();
+	});
+
 
 #if defined(__EMSCRIPTEN__)
 	lastRenderDelta = (after - before);
@@ -753,7 +767,7 @@ void videoLoop()
 			{
 				displayGameOver(getScriptWinLoseVideo() == PLAY_WIN, false);
 			}
-			triggerEvent(TRIGGER_VIDEO_QUIT);
+			executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_VIDEO_QUIT); });
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index b3d683fb45e..4ba4f3e621e 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@
 #include "wzcrashhandlingproviders.h"
 #include "wzpropertyproviders.h"
 #include "3rdparty/gsl_finally.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 
 #if defined(WZ_OS_UNIX)
 # include <signal.h>
@@ -987,7 +988,7 @@ static void startGameLoop()
 	{
 		addMissionTimerInterface();
 	}
-	triggerEvent(TRIGGER_START_LEVEL);
+	executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_START_LEVEL); });
 	screen_disableMapPreview();
 
 	if (!bMultiPlayer && getCamTweakOption_AutosavesOnly())
diff --git a/src/mission.cpp b/src/mission.cpp
index 547449148fe..cc645b7af48 100644
--- a/src/mission.cpp
+++ b/src/mission.cpp
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 #include "lib/framework/wztime.h"
 #include "keybind.h"
 #include "campaigninfo.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 
 #define		IDMISSIONRES_TXT		11004
 #define		IDMISSIONRES_LOAD		11005
@@ -2113,7 +2114,10 @@ void intUpdateTransporterTimer(WIDGET *psWidget, const W_CONTEXT *psContext)
 					if (psTransporter->action == DACTION_TRANSPORTWAITTOFLYIN)
 					{
 						missionFlyTransportersIn(selectedPlayer, false);
-						triggerEvent(TRIGGER_TRANSPORTER_ARRIVED, psTransporter);
+						executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([psTransporter]()
+						{
+							triggerEvent(TRIGGER_TRANSPORTER_ARRIVED, psTransporter);
+						});
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -2859,7 +2863,7 @@ void missionTimerUpdate()
 			if ((SDWORD)(gameTime - mission.startTime) > mission.time)
 			{
 				//the script can call the end game cos have failed!
-				triggerEvent(TRIGGER_MISSION_TIMEOUT);
+				executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_MISSION_TIMEOUT); });
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/transporter.cpp b/src/transporter.cpp
index 85dd3fca08a..409eb5f085d 100644
--- a/src/transporter.cpp
+++ b/src/transporter.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include "visibility.h"
 #include "multiplay.h"
 #include "hci/groups.h"
+#include "wzapi.h"
 
 //#define IDTRANS_FORM			9000	//The Transporter base form
 #define IDTRANS_CLOSE			9002	//The close button icon
@@ -1280,7 +1281,7 @@ void processLaunchTransporter()
 			//set the data for the transporter timer
 			widgSetUserData(psWScreen, IDTRANTIMER_DISPLAY, (void *)psCurrTransporter);
 
-			triggerEvent(TRIGGER_TRANSPORTER_LAUNCH, psCurrTransporter);
+			executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals([]() { triggerEvent(TRIGGER_TRANSPORTER_LAUNCH, psCurrTransporter); });
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/wzapi.cpp b/src/wzapi.cpp
index 556a2534ff7..3da327a6c45 100644
--- a/src/wzapi.cpp
+++ b/src/wzapi.cpp
@@ -2930,36 +2930,22 @@ bool wzapi::removeStruct(WZAPI_PARAMS(STRUCTURE *psStruct)) WZAPI_DEPRECATED
 
 //-- ## removeObject(gameObject[, sfx])
 //--
-//-- Remove the given game object with special effects. Returns a boolean that is true on success.
+//-- Queue the given game object for removal with or without special effects. Returns a boolean that is true on success.
 //-- A second, optional boolean parameter specifies whether special effects are to be applied. (3.2+ only)
 //--
+//-- BREAKING CHANGE (4.5+): the effect of this function is not immediate anymore, the object will be
+//-- queued for later removal instead of destroying it right away.
+//-- User scripts should not rely on this function having immediate side-effects.
+//--
 bool wzapi::removeObject(WZAPI_PARAMS(BASE_OBJECT *psObj, optional<bool> _sfx))
 {
 	SCRIPT_ASSERT(false, context, psObj, "No valid object provided");
-	bool sfx = _sfx.value_or(false);
+	SCRIPT_ASSERT(false, context,
+	    psObj->type == OBJ_STRUCTURE || psObj->type == OBJ_DROID || psObj->type == OBJ_FEATURE,
+	    "Wrong game object type");
 
-	bool retval = false;
-	if (sfx)
-	{
-		switch (psObj->type)
-		{
-		case OBJ_STRUCTURE: destroyStruct((STRUCTURE *)psObj, gameTime); break;
-		case OBJ_DROID: retval = destroyDroid((DROID *)psObj, gameTime); break;
-		case OBJ_FEATURE: retval = destroyFeature((FEATURE *)psObj, gameTime); break;
-		default: SCRIPT_ASSERT(false, context, false, "Wrong game object type"); break;
-		}
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		switch (psObj->type)
-		{
-		case OBJ_STRUCTURE: retval = removeStruct((STRUCTURE *)psObj, true); break;
-		case OBJ_DROID: retval = removeDroidBase((DROID *)psObj); break;
-		case OBJ_FEATURE: retval = removeFeature((FEATURE *)psObj); break;
-		default: SCRIPT_ASSERT(false, context, false, "Wrong game object type"); break;
-		}
-	}
-	return retval;
+	scriptQueuedObjectRemovals().emplace_back(psObj, _sfx.value_or(false));
+	return true;
 }
 
 //-- ## setScrollLimits(x1, y1, x2, y2)
@@ -4600,3 +4586,50 @@ nlohmann::json wzapi::constructMapTilesArray()
 	}
 	return mapTileArray;
 }
+
+wzapi::QueuedObjectRemovalsVector& wzapi::scriptQueuedObjectRemovals()
+{
+	static QueuedObjectRemovalsVector instance = []()
+	{
+		static constexpr size_t initialCapacity = 32;
+		QueuedObjectRemovalsVector ret;
+		ret.reserve(initialCapacity);
+		return ret;
+	}();
+	return instance;
+}
+
+void wzapi::processScriptQueuedObjectRemovals()
+{
+	auto& queuedObjRemovals = scriptQueuedObjectRemovals();
+	for (auto& objWithSfxFlag : queuedObjRemovals)
+	{
+		BASE_OBJECT* psObj = objWithSfxFlag.first;
+		if (psObj->died)
+		{
+			debug(LOG_MSG, "Object %p is already dead, not processing", static_cast<void*>(psObj));
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (objWithSfxFlag.second)
+		{
+			switch (psObj->type)
+			{
+			case OBJ_STRUCTURE: destroyStruct((STRUCTURE*)psObj, gameTime); break;
+			case OBJ_DROID: destroyDroid((DROID*)psObj, gameTime); break;
+			case OBJ_FEATURE: destroyFeature((FEATURE*)psObj, gameTime); break;
+			default: ASSERT(false, "Wrong game object type"); break;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			switch (psObj->type)
+			{
+			case OBJ_STRUCTURE: removeStruct((STRUCTURE*)psObj, true); break;
+			case OBJ_DROID: removeDroidBase((DROID*)psObj); break;
+			case OBJ_FEATURE: removeFeature((FEATURE*)psObj); break;
+			default: ASSERT(false, "Wrong game object type"); break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	queuedObjRemovals.clear();
+}
diff --git a/src/wzapi.h b/src/wzapi.h
index 21f958efd79..6fbeb52b6d9 100644
--- a/src/wzapi.h
+++ b/src/wzapi.h
@@ -1098,6 +1098,14 @@ namespace wzapi
 	no_return_value makeComponentAvailable(WZAPI_PARAMS(std::string componentName, int player));
 	bool allianceExistsBetween(WZAPI_PARAMS(int player1, int player2));
 	bool removeStruct(WZAPI_PARAMS(STRUCTURE *psStruct)) WZAPI_DEPRECATED;
+	/// <summary>
+	/// Queues the given game object for removal with or without special effects.
+	///
+	/// The current behavior is in effect since version 4.5+.
+	/// </summary>
+	/// <param name="psObj">Game object to be queued for removal.</param>
+	/// <param name="_sfx">Optional boolean parameter that specifies whether special effects are to be applied.</param>
+	/// <returns>`true` if `psObj` has been successfully queued for destruction.</returns>
 	bool removeObject(WZAPI_PARAMS(BASE_OBJECT *psObj, optional<bool> _sfx));
 	no_return_value setScrollLimits(WZAPI_PARAMS(int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2));
 	scr_area getScrollLimits(WZAPI_NO_PARAMS);
@@ -1126,6 +1134,34 @@ namespace wzapi
 	nlohmann::json constructStaticPlayerData();
 	std::vector<PerPlayerUpgrades> getUpgradesObject();
 	nlohmann::json constructMapTilesArray();
+
+	// `wzapi::removeObject` API call adds the game objects to this list.
+	// They will eventually be released during calls to `processScriptQueuedObjectRemovals()`
+	// during the following stages of the main game loop:
+	// 1. `recvMessage()` - there are a few functions which distribute
+	//    resources of the defeated players among others and may trigger script events.
+	// 2. `updateScripts()` - processes queued timer functions.
+	// 3. `droidUpdate()`, `missionDroidUpdate()`, `structureUpdate()` - main
+	//    routines for updating the state of in-game objects. These would potentially
+	//    trigger the majority of script events.
+	//
+	// Each pair represents <GameObject, NeedToApplyEffectsOnDestruction> tuple.
+	using QueuedObjectRemovalsVector = std::vector<std::pair<BASE_OBJECT*, bool>>;
+
+	QueuedObjectRemovalsVector& scriptQueuedObjectRemovals();
+	/// <summary>
+	/// Walks `scriptQueuedObjectRemovals()` list, destroys every object in that list
+	/// and clears the container.
+	/// </summary>
+	void processScriptQueuedObjectRemovals();
+} // namespace wzapi
+
+template <typename Fn>
+static void executeFnAndProcessScriptQueuedRemovals(Fn fn)
+{
+	ASSERT(wzapi::scriptQueuedObjectRemovals().empty(), "Leftover script-queued object removals detected!");
+	fn();
+	wzapi::processScriptQueuedObjectRemovals();
 }
 
 #endif