OSINT in international crimes: findings from the study visit by Ukrainian judges to Ireland and Northern Ireland

How should cases involving international crimes be handled, evidence assessed and responsibility for war crimes established? These issues were central to the study visit by a Ukrainian delegation to Ireland and Northern Ireland, which took place from 19 to 24 October 2026 with the aim of deepening the professional knowledge of Ukrainian judges and familiarising them with the experience of the judicial systems in both jurisdictions.

The Ukrainian delegation was led by the President of the Supreme Court, Stanislav Kravchenko. It also included judges and representatives of the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine).

The programme for the visit included meetings with representatives of the judiciary in Ireland and Northern Ireland, thematic seminars, professional discussions and familiarisation with the work of law enforcement and judicial institutions.

In Ireland, the Ukrainian judges met with representatives of the Supreme Court and the judiciary, visited Clontarf Garda Station and took part in seminars on international criminal law. The focus was on forms of complicity in the commission of crimes, command responsibility, the classification of war crimes and approaches to establishing liability for their commission.

A separate training module was devoted to the use of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in proceedings concerning international crimes. Participants explored the possibilities of using digital data and information from open sources to establish the circumstances of crimes and build a case.

In Northern Ireland, the delegation familiarised itself with the workings of the local judicial system and met with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan. A round-table discussion was also held with representatives of the judiciary, during which participants exchanged experiences and discussed the specific challenges of administering justice in the context of social conflicts and in light of their long-term consequences.

An important part of the visit was the professional engagement with representatives of the legal communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland, particularly during events organised by the bar associations of both jurisdictions. Such meetings provide opportunities to exchange professional practices, foster international dialogue and strengthen cooperation between the legal communities.

The study visit enabled Ukrainian judges to familiarise themselves with the legal approaches and practical experience of their foreign colleagues, to deepen their knowledge of the adjudication of cases involving international crimes, and to discuss tools that may be useful for the administration of justice in Ukraine in the context of a full-scale war.

The National School of Judges of Ukraine supports international cooperation aimed at the professional development of judges, the enhancement of their expertise in the field of international humanitarian and international criminal law, and the promotion of the principles of the rule of law and effective justice.