Join us for an eye-opening discussion on the role of OSINT in Ukraine and beyond.
Event description:
As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on, open-source intelligence (OSINT) has become one of the most powerful tools for exposing war crimes, countering disinformation, and advancing justice. Digital investigations have uncovered atrocities, verified evidence in real time, and challenged official narratives — reshaping both the information space and accountability efforts.
How has OSINT shaped our understanding of the war? What role does it play in documenting war crimes and strengthening justice mechanisms? And as OSINT evolves into a critical intelligence discipline, what are its limitations and ethical dilemmas? In this seminar, leading OSINT practitioners from Bellingcat, the Centre for Information Resilience, and OSINT for Ukraine will share their investigations into Russia’s war in Ukraine, revealing how diverse methods –– digital forensics, satellite imagery, and social media analysis, among others –– are exposing the truth. From exposing Belarusian involvement in Russia’s campaigns of child abduction in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories to meticulously archiving findings for their future use as evidence, our speakers will reflect on the broader implications of OSINT’s rise for the future of intelligence and its role in advancing justice for the war crimes in Ukraine.
Join us for an eye-opening discussion on the role of OSINT in Ukraine and beyond — where technology meets truth, and evidence speaks for itself.
Speakers:
Nick Waters leads Justice and Accountability for Bellingcat with previous experience in the military, cyber threat intelligence and an MA in Conflict, Security, and Development from King’s College London. His work at Bellingcat has focused on the application of open-source techniques to the investigation of conflict, including the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and violence perpetrated against refugees and migrants at the borders of Europe. His current focus is on the application of open-source information as evidence for accountability.
Andro Mathewson is a Project Manager of the Centre for Information Resilience's 'Eyes on Russia' project, which monitors the Russian invasion of Ukraine through open-source intelligence. He is also a PhD student in War Studies at King's College London and a Junior Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College. Prior to CIR, he was a Research Manager at The HALO Trust using OSINT to identify minefields for humanitarian clearance in Ukraine.
Edward Snyder has worked and volunteered in the OSINT field since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, applying OSINT techniques in humanitarian, military, and accountability sectors. In 2023, he assisted the National Anti-Crisis Management in building a legal case against the Belarusian regime for its role in Russia’s campaign of child exploitation. He continues this investigative work at OSINT for Ukraine (OFU) as the Child Crimes Task Force Leader. At OFU, he has investigated Russian humanitarian and charitable organizations for their involvement in the illegal deportation and adoption of Ukrainian children. He is also engaged with OFU’s Education Department and contributes to the development of wargame simulations
Chair:
Kvitka Perehinets is a strategic communications professional with experience spanning international charities, NGOs, and media organisations based in Ukraine, Denmark, and Scotland. In her previous capacity as a Managing Editor of WeAreUkraine.info, Kvitka oversaw the project’s daily news monitoring operations, production of analytical long-reads, and the roll-out of public advocacy campaigns in 20+ countries. A 2024 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security recipient and a member of Chatham House Common Futures Conversations, she is completing her MA in Intelligence and International Security at King’s College London.