Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors strengthen their skills on open-source intelligence

Investigating crimes in a modern information era requires application of a wide range of tools including open-source intelligence (OSINT). A use of data from open sources as evidence in criminal proceedings is one of the skills on top demand for Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators dealing with war crimes. In the war context, the value of intelligence from open sources increases drastically due to the lack of physical access to crime scenes or evidence.

To this end, 20 prosecutors and investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police and the Security Service from all around Ukraine underwent an intensive five-day OSINT training, held in Rzeszów, Poland on 21-25 August 2023. The group enveloped participants who are dealing with war crimes resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The training was organised jointly by the Council of Europe and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

The activity enabled the target audience to master their knowledge of collecting, evaluating and analysing publicly available information, as well as conducting investigations using OSINT in accordance with international standards and best practices. The trainers of the course focused on the definition of OSINT, its categories and methodologies, the intelligence cycle, anonymization tools, Google hacking techniques, images and video search techniques, tools for websites, social media and deep and dark web, advanced OSINT tools and link analysis. The training also covered the topics of fundamental rights within the use of OSINT, the Budapest Convention framework, and admissibility of open-source information as e-evidence in criminal proceedings from the perspectives of European Court of Human Rights and the national court practice. The European Union Advisory Mission partner-experts further extended the expertise by introducing international cooperation frameworks and OSINT tools developed to the needs of Ukrainian law enforcement authorities.

"These have been very intense and professionally enriching five days! And not only within the training curriculum scope. This has been a unique opportunity for professional interaction of all pre-trial investigation bodies and prosecutors dealing with war crimes. The value of this cannot be overestimated" - Ms Nataliya Podolyako - Deputy Head of the Police Department, Head of the Investigative Department of the Police Department from the Pologiv District in the Zaporizhzhia Region.

The activity is a part of the Council of Europe projects “Strengthening Ukrainian Law Enforcement Agencies During War and Post-War Period” and “Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine” implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026, organised in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) within its TOPCOP project.

The article was prepared by the Council of Europe and was originally published on the Council of Europe's website.