The war in Ukraine has marked a turning point for open-source intelligence (OSINT). What was once seen as a supplementary or less trusted discipline within military intelligence has\u00a0rapidly evolved into a critical\u00a0component\u00a0of the modern information environment.<\/strong> Driven by unprecedented volumes,\u00a0OSINT has proven its value in providing early indicators of military activity, supporting both strategic planning and operational decision-making when integrated with other intelligence streams. It enables analysts to\u00a0monitor events in near real time and extends beyond the battlefield, empowering journalists and investigators to shape public understanding, document conflict, and support the attribution of war crimes.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the same time, this shift has introduced new challenges. Analysts must navigate information overload, counter manipulation, and manage cognitive bias in an increasingly complex landscape. Drawing on lessons from\u00a0the Ukraine\u00a0war, this paper distills seven practical lessons, each paired with a clear takeaway, to help\u00a0military\u00a0analysts apply OSINT more effectively in their work.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n Modern conflicts now unfold across both physical and digital battlespaces. The war in Ukraine has generated an unprecedented volume of publicly and commercially available information, from social media and messaging platforms to satellite imagery and crowdsourced reporting. At the same time, the rise of advanced OSINT platforms has made this data more accessible and actionable, enabling analysts to produce near-real-time threat assessments across government, commercial, and independent communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n This constant flow of information has created a new reality. Battlespaces are persistently\u00a0observed, but information moves faster than it can be verified. Narratives spread as quickly as facts, forcing analysts to\u00a0operate\u00a0in a contested environment where data is both an advantage and a vulnerability.\u00a0<\/p>\n As a result, OSINT is shifting from a supporting role to a foundational layer of intelligence. However, this evolution brings new challenges, including information overload, manipulation, and cognitive bias. To remain effective, analysts must adopt new tradecraft by moving from collection-centric models to validation-centric workflows, from linear analysis to iterative synthesis, and from isolated work to networked collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n Social media platforms have become critical sources of open-source information in modern conflicts. During the war in Ukraine, soldiers, civilians, journalists, and military bloggers continuously shared images, videos, and commentary from the battlefield. In some cases, units such as the\u00a0Kadyrovtsy\u00a0revealed their own locations through posts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, enabling analysts to geolocate and track their movements, even if the extent of direct operational use\u00a0remains\u00a0unclear.\u00a0<\/p>\n Platforms like Telegram and VKontakte generated particularly large volumes of data. Telegram\u00a0emerged\u00a0as a central hub due to its channel structure and limited moderation, while VKontakte supported recruitment, propaganda,\u00a0and also\u00a0exposed geotagged information useful for\u00a0identifying\u00a0troop positions and\u00a0logistics. Other platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and X contributed\u00a0additional\u00a0streams of high-resolution footage and analytical insights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Together, these platforms act as a distributed sensor network, producing vast amounts of real-time information on battlefield activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tips<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Best practices for collecting, analyzing, and verifying social media begin with treating it as a structured intelligence discipline rather than an informal or retrospective source. OSINT collectors, collection managers, and analysts should work together to define priority platforms, channels, hashtags, and accounts as formal collection requirements, supported by continuous monitoring instead of ad hoc searches. If you want to find out more about best practices for analyzing and verifying social media, download our whitepaper.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n This whitepaper distills seven practical lessons from\u00a0the Ukraine\u00a0war on how OSINT is used in hybrid warfare. It goes beyond highlighting successes and instead provides best practices to help analysts overcome key analytical and verification challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s\u00a0included:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\nTable of Contents<\/h2>\n
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The First Digitally Transparent War<\/h2>\n
Lesson 1: Social Media Serves as the War\u2019s Information Hub and Digital Battlefield<\/h2>\n
Download the Whitepaper<\/h2>\n
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Download the resource<\/h3>\n