In an international OSINT hackathon organized by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, five teams emerged victorious. The awards were presented by GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov with the participation of the jury. This was reported on the GUR website.

Among the winning teams were:

• C4ADS (USA);
• “Omega” (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Ukraine);
• DeepStateUA (Ukraine);
• Eyes on Russia (Centre for Information Resilience, UK);
• OSINT for Ukraine (Netherlands).

“The international makeup of the winners demonstrates that the struggle against Russian aggression is a shared responsibility of the entire free world,” noted GUR.

Participants presented analytical materials that are already being prepared for integration into the War&Sanctions portal. The intelligence agency explained that all submitted projects have practical significance for future informational and sanction measures against the Russian Federation.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov expressed gratitude to the team representatives and assured that the materials they prepared would be transformed into real actions against the enemy.

“In times of war, information is a weapon. You have proven that you can wield it at a high level. The data you have collected and analyzed will be used to strengthen sanctions against the aggressor. Thank you for your work – it brings us closer to victory,” said Kyrylo Budanov.

Background Information

It is worth recalling that in May 2025, GUR organized an international hackathon for OSINT investigators from around the world. Participants prepared analytical materials for existing sections of the War&Sanctions portal, proposed new thematic directions, and conducted investigations based on data. The works were evaluated and winners determined by representatives of GUR and heads of central executive bodies and state agencies of Ukraine.

GUR launched the War&Sanctions platform on June 1, 2024, as an element of informational influence on the enemy. In its first year, nine content sections have been created, covering topics from military components to mechanisms of cultural genocide.

In December 2024, GUR and the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council launched a new section titled “Kremlin Mouthpieces” on the War&Sanctions portal, listing Russian propagandists and media managers.