Інструменти OSINT: фіксація воєнних злочинів в Україні

The article is devoted to the analysis of OSINT (open source intelligence) tools and their application as a promising tool for monitoring the recording of war crimes in the context of ensuring national security. The author considers both domestic and foreign experience in approaches to collecting information through open sources, and also offers a list of the most famous OSINT tools. Attention is paid to the classification of sources that are suitable for use within the framework of this methodology. Taking into account the growing need in Ukraine for recording war crimes, a number of the most effective tools for recording offenses aimed at ensuring a fair investigation and protecting national interests and guaranteeing national security are proposed. The study identified the advantages of using OSINT. Among them: significant savings in time and resources due to the collection of primary information from open sources about the activities of war crime subjects; the ability to provide the country’s leadership with high-quality analytical information about potentially dangerous actions by the Russian Federation; as well as public dissemination of data on violations of the law by the Russian Federation, which, due to the open nature of the information, will allow not only to counteract information attacks, but also to establish justice. The effectiveness of OSINT in the activities of law enforcement agencies will be further enhanced due to the interdisciplinary composition of specialists of this institution. The relationship between law and OSINT, law and activities in the field of national security, as well as law and the work of law enforcement agencies is based on the priority of law over these areas. Accordingly, the principle of the rule of law undoubtedly serves as a key principle of the functioning of OSINT in the context of national security. Particular attention is focused on the following principles: continuity, a combination of open and covert methods and means, control and accountability of the activities of intelligence agencies, as well as adherence to impartiality and fairness. In the author’s opinion, the active integration of OSINT into the work of the law enforcement system can become an important factor in the effective regulation of law enforcement activities in Ukraine, especially in terms of ensuring national security.