31.01.2024
In this article, the Molfar website editorial team shares some of the most high-profile cases of effective work by the agency's OSINT analysts this year. Over the past year, our specialists have conducted investigations across the globe. They exposed Russian vandals in London and uncovered Russian connections in Germany. They analyzed how satellite images ended up in Russian hands and the threats this poses to Ukraine. Additionally, they revealed a network of stores and suppliers enabling Russians to purchase Starlink devices in Russia without restrictions. And these are just a few of the investigations Molfar has conducted this year. For more, visit our website. Here, we’ll highlight some of these cases.
Exposing Vandals in London: How the Kyzyl Battalion Unmasked Themselves
At the beginning of 2024, Russian Telegram communities circulated videos (1, 2) showing Russian national Kirill Sarukhanov discarding flowers near the monument to Volodymyr the Great in London. The vandal’s clothing and accessories enabled his identification as a member of the Kyzyl Battalion, a group known for regularly discrediting Ukrainians and provoking activists at rallies.
Sarukhanov and his associates Ilya Platov and Roman regularly posted videos on the Kyzyl Battalion pages, boasting about their “activities.” However, after Molfar analysts identified them, they deleted all the information and shut down their social media accounts.
Despite their attempts to remain anonymous, the provocateurs essentially exposed themselves. For instance, Ilya Platov tagged his associates in photos on Instagram. The Kyzyl Battalion also shared content confirming the connections between group members and their activities in London.
Explore the Investigation: Desecration of monuments, discrediting Ukrainians. Exposing the members of the "Russian patriots' movement"
Video with the algorithm on our channel: OSINT Case. Molfar Identified the London Provocateur. Search Algorithm
Revealing the Russian Connection in Exolaunch
Investigating the Connections of Exolaunch, a German Company Specializing in Microsatellite Launches. Most of the company's executives and engineers originate from Russia, often hiding or changing their real names, as in the case of Zhanna Alari.
From 2013 to 2018, Zhanna worked at Glavkosmosʼ (a branch of Roscosmos), where she was responsible for Russian-Chinese cooperation in the field of civil space exploration. In the fall of 2022, she met in Nepal with several individuals who remain in Russia and maintain influential connections. Among them were children of Russian deputies and members of pro-Kremlin parties, as well as executives of sanctioned companies.
If Exolaunch employees indeed continue to maintain ties with Russians and Putinists even after the full-scale invasion, this raises questions about their position. The investigation once again highlighted the importance of transparency in businesses.
Read the Investigation: Is "Exolaunch" a branch of Roscosmos masquerading as a German space startup?
Investigating Whether Maxar and Planet Are Selling Satellite Images of Ukraine to Russia
Molfar analysts conducted their fact-checking of The Atlantic's article, which suggested that Russia is using satellite images from Western companies to plan attacks on Ukraine. Molfar's HUMINT investigation uncovered possible cooperation between Russians and intermediaries of Maxar and other companies selling satellite images.
Molfar specialists analyzed 321 cases of Russian missile strikes in 2022 and found a pattern: images of the areas were ordered just days before the attacks. The industry, despite sanctions, continues to facilitate Russian strikes.
Read the Investigation: Do Russians Purchase Maxar and Planet Images for Striking Ukraine? Molfar's Analysis of The Atlantic Article
Watch the Video: Business with Russia: Does Maxar and Planet Sell Satellite Images of Ukraine to Russia? Molfar’s Analysis
Proved Starlink Sales in Russia — Schemes and Stores
Russia has found a way to buy and use Starlink. Molfar analysts, together with the Cyber War Research Institute, discovered that a network of stores and suppliers in Russia openly sells Starlink. A HUMINT investigation further confirmed this: sellers disclosed sources of supply, costs, availability, and the scale of sales.
A whole network of stores was discovered in Russia, where Starlink is sold. On one of the stores' main pages, they even describe the intended purposes for selling the kits, such as enabling uninterrupted communication in sanctioned regions.
Read the Article:
Can Starlink Be Purchased in Russia? Talking to Sellers in Russia
Debunked Russian Propaganda Against Azov
On May 16, 2022, Mariupol defenders, including over 900 fighters of the Azov regiment, left Azovstal on the orders of Ukrainian military leadership. Russian propaganda created numerous fakes in an attempt to discredit them.
Among the most absurd claims were that Azov fighters hoarded gold and money at Azovstal, which they allegedly carried with them while surrendering. This is only part of a vast propaganda campaign that Russia continues to propagate.
Many Ukrainian soldiers remain in captivity. Captivity kills. That is why relatives, friends, and activists regularly hold actions to draw attention to the fate of prisoners.
Read the Publication: "Neozazis," "foreigners", and “pockets full of gold”. How is Russian propaganda spreading lies about the defenders of “Azovstal”?
Proved Crimes of the 47th Guards Regiment Shelling Kharkiv
The 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment from Voronezh, military unit 45117. They are responsible for shelling Kharkiv and the region. On May 25, 2024, their attack killed 18 people, with 32 more injured.
In a major unmasking, Molfar analysts published a list of Russian military personnel involved in the systematic shelling of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region. The list includes them, their relatives, and close connections.
Read the Unmasking:
Who is shelling Kharkiv? Molfar has identified 55 Russian military personnel
Found Perpetrators of the Attack on Ohmatdyt
July 8, 2024 — the day of a shocking mass attack by Russians. They deliberately struck Ohmatdyt, a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Fragments from a Russian missile also damaged (1, 2) a maternity hospital, an apartment building entrance, and a business center in the Dnipro district.
Russians attempted to deny a targeted strike on the children’s hospital. However, the facts tell a different story. On that day, a Russian missile was captured on video.
Molfar analysts quickly examined the details of the attack and managed to identify those responsible. These were Russian servicemen from unit 06987, based at the Engels airfield.
Read the Investigation: They shelled Okhmatdyt. Fact-check of the attack on the children's hospital in Kyiv and the deanon of the Russian military
Watch the Video:
Molfar Found Those Involved in Ukraine Strikes
Identified Russian Special Unit Senezh
Another group of Russian criminals identified by Molfar in 2024. At the end of July, Molfar analysts obtained documentary evidence of military operations by special forces from the Senezh unit. In the article prepared by the website’s editorial team, eyewitness accounts of the aftermath of Senezh operations and conversations with victims were published.
Read the Publication: Elite killers who spread terror to civilians in Ukraine: Senezh — the Russian special forces. The list of liquidated
Analyzed the Ukrainian Art Market: Where to Invest?
Molfar prepared a study together with Spilne Art, reviewing contemporary Ukrainian art and the works of representatives in the context of investment attractiveness. Despite the challenges of war, Ukrainian art retains high potential and is cementing its place on the global art scene. Artists represent Ukraine at exhibitions in Washington, Dresden, and Vienna — bright examples of ideological struggle.
We found that prices for Ukrainian art are largely influenced by the artist’s name — their brand. The uniqueness of works and the use of unusual materials is also essential. Famous names like Marchuk or Nazar Bilyk are already brands, thus their works are priced higher.
Experts note that now is a good time to invest in lesser-known artists whose works may become valuable assets.
Read the Study:
Ukrainian Art: Future Prospects and Insights from Molfar and Spilne Art's Research
Identified Attacks on Charitable Foundations and Their Threats
Donation levels for the needs of defenders and protectors have decreased. Molfar OSINT analysts found that systematic information attacks on funds play a significant role in this, undermining trust in them. Since the full-scale invasion began, there have been 379 such attacks, 36% of which have a direct Russian trace.
The study showed that Telegram is the key platform for spreading disinformation, particularly Russian propaganda. Molfar analysts established that many of these attacks are coordinated by Russian bot farms, generating millions of negative comments to undermine trust in Ukrainian initiatives.
Read the Analysis: "Chmut steals money," "Prytula, where is the satellite?", "PR in the war": who ruins the reputation of Foundations?
In 2024, Molfar published dozens of important and high-profile investigations. OSINT is now one of the most effective tools for finding information, debunking fakes, fact-checking, and conducting in-depth analysis. For 2025, we are preparing even more groundbreaking investigations. Stay updated with new investigations on our website and social media platforms.
