In November, Global Rights Compliance (GRC) held a comprehensive four-day training titled “Investigating Attacks on Critical Infrastructure with OSINT.”
This programme brought together Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators, providing them with the tools and frameworks necessary to identify, document, and investigate war crimes using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).
The training focused on the investigation of attacks on critical infrastructure, including grain and port-related infrastructure, energy and water infrastructure and attacks on objects indispensable to civilian survival, exploring associated violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international criminal law (ICL). The program emphasised the use of OSINT to gather evidence and document violations, enhancing the ability to investigate and prosecute these crimes, supporting broader accountability efforts at both national and international levels. Participants explored the patterns, scale, and systematic nature of such conduct, establishing connections between specific incidents and wider policies or campaigns.
A key component of the training was the OSINT Sprint, a practical investigative exercise where participants applied OSINT techniques to analyse and verify open-source information. The OSINT Sprint was designed to simulate real-world investigative scenarios, guiding participants through the investigative process — from initial preparation and planning to verification and application of law to the facts, simulating the issuance of notices of suspicion.
One of the most innovative aspects of this training was its practical approach blending OSINT investigations and applicable legal frameworks, highlighting its use in war crimes investigations and prosecutions, bringing together trainers with a wide range of legal and OSINT expertise.
As Rebecca Bakos Blumenthal, Project Lead of the Training Program and Deputy Lead of GRC’s Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division, highlighted:
“This training takes a bold step forward by practically showing practitioners how OSINT can play a critical role, going beyond lead generation, to provide direct evidence of core international crimes. This approach is particularly timely given the recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. As Russian forces continue to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure — including energy grids and water supplies — the training underscored the importance of documenting these crimes in real-time. By equipping investigators and prosecutors with the tools to identify, verify and investigate these incidents, the program supports ongoing efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.”
Over the four days, attendees delved into critical questions integral to the investigation and prosecution of attacks on critical infrastructure:
Catriona Murdoch, Vice President and Director of GRC’s Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division, highlighted the importance of a thorough and strategic approach to investigations. She noted:
“Starvation as a method of warfare is a violation of international law. Investigators must look beyond isolated incidents to uncover patterns of resource destruction, discriminatory targeting, and policies aimed at depriving civilians of vital sustenance. Only by thoroughly mapping these events can we begin to pursue accountability for these devastating acts.”
The training underscored the significance of contextual analysis in investigating alleged crimes. By examining pre-conflict uses of targeted areas, identifying patterns of repeated destruction, and scrutinising policies or rhetoric surrounding the attacks on critical infrastructure, investigators prosecutors are able to build strong cases.
Anna Gallina, Legal Adviser for GRC’s Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division, noted the importance of considering a range of charges when investigating attacks on critical infrastructure, including crimes beyond the war crime of starvation:
“While starvation as a method of warfare is a central focus of our training, we also explored the broader range of potential charges that may arise from attacks on critical infrastructure. Each of these charges carries its own legal nuances and strategic considerations. In balancing these options, investigators must carefully consider both the evidence at hand and the legal strategy that will most effectively advance their cases. Our aim is to ensure that prosecutors are equipped to pursue multiple avenues for accountability, depending on the facts of each case.”
This training reflects GRC’s commitment to equipping practitioners with the expertise necessary to achieve justice for victims and to uphold international law.