The use of Open Source Intelligence in the investigation of wartime destruction of cultural heritage

Abstract

This article examines the methodological aspects of using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) in investigating the destruction of cul tural heritage during armed conflicts, with a particular focus on the Russian-Ukrainian war. The study analyzes the comprehensive ap proach to OSINT investigations, emphasizing the importance of digital evidence collection, verification, and systematization. Special attention is paid to metadata analysis as a critical component of digital foren sics, presenting specialized tools for examining photographs (ExifTool, FotoForensics), videos (MediaInfo, FFmpeg), social media content (InVID, TweetDeck), geolocation data (Google Earth Pro, SunCalc), and digital archiving solutions (Wayback Machine, Archive.is). The article demon strates how the integration of various OSINT methodologies enables in vestigators to establish the facts of destruction, determine the timing and circumstances of the events, identify responsible individuals and military units, and build a solid evidence base for international judicial proceedings. The research also explores the interdisciplinary nature of such investigations, requiring collaboration between cultural heritage experts, military specialists, international law professionals, and digital technology analysts. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the dual sig nificance of OSINT investigations in this context: as tools for document ing war crimes and as mechanisms for preserving cultural memory. The documented evidence serves not only legal purposes but also provides crucial information for post-war reconstruction planning, reparation cal culations, and cultural memory preservation for future generations. The research concludes that standardized protocols for OSINT data collec tion and processing are essential to enhance the legal weight of collect ed evidence and facilitate its integration into the international justice system, ultimately contributing to accountability for crimes against cul tural heritage and developing more effective protection mechanisms for the future.