Stepping up efforts to combat cross-border crime and financial fraud, EUBAM, in collaboration with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), organized a two-day open-source intelligence (OSINT) training on 16–17 September 2025 at the Palanca–Mayaki Jointly Operated Border Crossing Point (JOBCP). The course brought together Ukrainian law enforcement and security officers to sharpen their investigative skills and enhance regional cooperation.

Seventeen representatives from the State Customs Service, State Border Guard Service, National Police, and the Bureau of Economic Security took part in the programme, delivered by two OLAF experts with EUBAM’s support.

Combining theory and practice, the first day introduced OSINT concepts, essential tools, and investigative techniques, including guidance on identifying reliable sources and using specialized software such as Analyst Notebook and Shadowdragon. On the second day, participants applied these skills in satellite imagery analysis, fact-checking, and business information gathering, with an emphasis on transforming collected data into actionable intelligence.

The initiative aimed to build participants’ capacity to collect, verify, and analyze publicly available information in support of their operational duties. By fostering inter-agency knowledge sharing and cooperation, the training is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to detect and counter illicit activities, from smuggling to financial crime.

The event concluded with a round-up session, where participants exchanged insights, shared lessons learned, and discussed practical ways to integrate OSINT more effectively into their institutions’ investigative and enforcement practices.