Inside OSINT FOR UKRAINE: Combating War Crimes and Disinformation

In the second episode of The Intelligence Spotlight, we spotlight an extraordinary initiative born from war, driven by purpose, and fuelled by collaboration—OSINT for Ukraine. Founded in 2022, the organisation has become a frontline actor in documenting war crimes, countering Russian disinformation, and supporting accountability through the rigorous use of open-source intelligence.

We sat down with Deniz Dirisu, chairman and general director of OSINT for Ukraine, and Janthe van Schaik, co-director of the organisation’s Centre for Influence and Disinformation Research (CIDR). What began as a student collective at Leiden University is now a growing foundation with over 50 volunteers working pro bono, with ambitions to become a full-time force for justice.

For Deniz, who has Ukrainian heritage, the Russian invasion struck a personal chord. “I was supposed to be writing my thesis, but I couldn’t focus,” he recalls. Instead, he pivoted the thesis to examine OSINT evidence in criminal law, launched a grassroots initiative, and began training with experts. OSINT for Ukraine was born out of urgency and built through relentless learning.

Janthe, with a background in security studies and human rights, joined through a similar impulse to act. Initially unfamiliar with OSINT, she grew into her role through workshops, reading, and a deepening curiosity. “It was about finding how I could apply what I knew to a cause that mattered,” she said.

The foundation's flagship initiative, Project Mariupol, began as a basic effort to document atrocities. It has since evolved into a digital archive designed to support both justice and memory. Overlaying war crimes data with military positioning from sources like DeepState, the team can estimate which units were near specific atrocities—critical in building legal cases and public awareness.

Another key branch is the International Crimes Investigation Group (ICIG), which has been collaborating with police forces and justice bodies such as the Clooney Foundation. Task forces focus on areas including child deportation, cyber crimes, and financial investigations—all linked by a central goal: documenting atrocity crimes for accountability.

CIDR, led by Janthe, focuses on disinformation analysis and research. One arm of CIDR uses war-gaming simulations to educate professionals and students on how disinformation spreads in high-pressure scenarios. Another arm analyses social media narratives, mapping influence operations and exposing the interplay between artificial intelligence and modern propaganda. “It’s not just about naming the disinformation,” Janthe explains. “It’s about understanding how it evolves, and how people interact with it.”

Investigations from CIDR have already uncovered Russian influence operations in Berlin’s cultural institutions and Austrian political circles. One such project, Strudel of Influence, mapped the links between Russian-backed groups and Austrian politicians, laying bare the complex web of soft power and misinformation operating within Europe.

What sets OSINT for Ukraine apart is its strategic structure. Rather than focusing on a single project, the foundation operates on three pillars: international crimes investigations, disinformation research, and digital archiving. Each feeds into the others, forming a cohesive loop of memory, justice, and truth.

Both Deniz and Janthe emphasised that you don’t need to be a tech wizard to start in OSINT. “What matters most is understanding the basics—how to search, how to set your parameters, how to ask the right questions,” said Deniz. Virtual machines, VPNs, and standard tools like Google Earth or reverse image search can take a new investigator a long way.

For anyone in conflict regions or students eager to make a difference, the advice is clear: start small, stay curious, and find your people. “OSINT thrives on collaboration,” Janthe said. “This is a community that learns together.”

From tracing war crimes to unravelling propaganda, OSINT for Ukraine stands as proof that open-source intelligence, when used ethically and persistently, can illuminate even the darkest of wars.