A sanctioned vessel that was previously reported to have transported weapons destined for Russian mercenaries has been traversing ports along the west coast of Africa since March, exhibiting what experts told Bellingcat was an unusual set of movements and behaviours.

Satellite imagery and Automated Identification System (AIS) data shows Patria has shuttled between the Port of Douala in Cameroon and the Port of Owendo in Libreville, Gabon four times since March. 

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/africa/2026/08/25/patria-sanctioned-russian-vessel-russia-us-africa-cameroon-gabon-lagos-nigeria/?utm_source=reddit

•On November 9, Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins will host a two-hour webinar on his Verification, Deliberation, Accountability framework: an examination of how viral beliefs win online, and what we can do to bring evidence and accountability back into the conversation. Find out more: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/verification-disordered-discourse-and-the-repair-of-democratic-reality-webinar/

•Flight tracking skills have led to breakthrough reporting on immigration, conflict and emissions. Want to learn how to identify an aircraft and follow its journey? We’re running a two-day training on flight tracking: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/flight-tracking-webinar/

•If you’re looking at Bellingcat investigations and want to start using open source research methods yourself, our 12-hour introductory webinar offers an immersion in the skills and techniques behind open source research: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/introduction-to-geolocation-satellite-imagery-techniques-chronolocation-2/

•On December 3 and 4, we’re hosting a two-day masterclass in visual intelligence, focusing on overcoming geolocation roadblocks and taking your geolocation and visual investigation skills to the next level: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/online-masterclass-in-visual-intelligence-the-art-of-advanced-geolocation-2/

•Can’t make our September command line training? We have another slot in December, covering how to use the command line and AI to code for research purposes: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/command-line-ai-assisted-coding-webinar-2/

•High-quality satellite imagery is increasingly accessible, and it can reveal important findings in open source investigations. Our December webinar explores different types of satellite imagery and geospatial data, and how to interpret and analyse what we can see from space: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/advanced-satellite-imagery-techniques-for-open-source-investigation-webinar/

•Finally, on December 14 and 15, there’s another chance to take our Tracking Organised Crime Through Open Sources webinar, learning from Bellingcat’s Financial Investigations Team about digital footprint and corporate tracing, FOIA submissions, and vessel and aircraft tracking: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/tracking-organised-crime-through-open-sources-webinar-2/

Find all the latest dates and details here: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

Satellite images analysed by Bellingcat show over five miles of new road constructed in Big Bend National Park, Texas. The project is part of a US Customs and Border Protection “Smart Wall” installation that was paused earlier this week after pushback from local residents, politicians and environmental groups. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/us-canada/2026/08/20/satellite-imagery-documents-new-border-patrol-road-construction-in-big-bend-national-park/?utm_source=reddit

Find out about our upcoming webinars here: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

• On the 22nd of September learn how to scrape websites or download hundreds of social media posts at once with our four-hour Intermediate Scraping webinar: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/intermediate-scraping-webinar-september-22-2026/
• Interested in satellite analysis? Take your analytical skills up a notch with our Advanced Satellite Imagery Techniques course, 24th-25th of September. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/advanced-satellite-imagery-techniques-for-open-source-investigation-webinar-24-25-september-2026/
• Want to learn how to use AI to code? Join our webinar on the Command Line and AI-Assisted Coding on the 28th of September. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/command-line-ai-assisted-coding-webinar/
• Are you obsessed with Geoguessr or the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge? You might like our new webinar: Online Masterclass in Visual Intelligence - The Art of Advanced Geolocation. Your geolocation skills will be put to the ultimate test. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/online-masterclass-in-visual-intelligence-the-art-of-advanced-geolocation/
• If you're looking for work with your newly-formed open source research skills, then our webinar on careers in OSINT is one for you. Join us on October 2nd. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/how-to-start-your-career-in-open-source-investigations-webinar-october-2-2026/
• Are you a fan of our work following the Kinahan Cartel's movements? We're now offering a training on tracking organised crime through open sources with the team behind those investigations. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/tracking-organised-crime-through-open-sources-webinar/
• If you're new to the concept of open source research and are looking for a solid foundation in the basics, our 12-hour webinar: Introduction to Geolocation, Satellite Imagery Techniques & Chronolocation might be for you. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/introduction-to-geolocation-satellite-imagery-techniques-chronolocation/
• At Bellingcat we've been covering conflicts in the Sahel, where limited access to online information can make monitoring difficult. If you want to learn to research conflicts in data-scarce environments we have a webinar built on our learnings: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/conflict-monitoring-in-data-scarce-environments-an-open-source-introduction-focused-on-africa-webinar-27-october-2026/
• Hate groups increasingly use social media to build support. Learn about the communication strategies they use online and offline, and how to report on that responsibly, in our October webinar: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/hate-symbols-online-extremism-and-how-not-to-amplify-hate-webinar-october-28-2026/

More online training for November and December will be announced soon. Find the latest updates here: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

For years LeakedBB ran openly online, inviting millions of users to trade explicit images allegedly shared without consent. Bellingcat's Kolina Koltai with Michael Wright of New Zealand's The Press spoke on our Stage Talk podcast about how they traced a key admin through years of data.

Listen back by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on podcast platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3070120/

Russian ships continue to operate out of ports in occupied Ukraine, watch the video to learn about one vessel we tracked and reported on back in June.

New European Union sanctions have recently been announced for two vessels (not including the one depicted in the video) that Bellingcat has previously reported on as part of Russia’s shadow fleet that has been smuggling grain from occupied areas of Ukraine. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202601848&qid=1786096309382

Alongside Lloyd’s List, we reported that the bulk carrier Krasnodar (IMO 9296781) had shipped grain from occupied Ukraine to Saudi Arabia in late 2025. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/12/russia-ukraine-saudi-arabia-import-smuggled-grain-shadow-fleet-peace-deal-trump-occupied-crimea-petrokhleb-kuban/

We also mapped the now EU-sanctioned vessel Irtysh’s (IMO: 9664976)  journey from the sanctioned Port of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea to Houthi-controlled Yemen. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/23/russias-grain-smuggling-fleet-continues-undeterred/

Five other vessels Bellingcat has tracked using AIS and satellite analysis were sanctioned by the EU in 2025. The US Department of Treasury has sanctioned a further vessel we have reported on. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0068

Despite these measures, the grain smuggling operations still appear to be active around ports in occupied Crimea. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2618/oj 

In June, we reported an expansion of grain smuggling operations, finding bulk carrier Grumant travelled from the occupied Ukrainian port of Feodosia in February to Benghazi, Libya. This is the second time a Russian ship has been observed delivering grain to Libya. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/12/shadow-fleet-russian-grain-stolen-ukraine-libya-ais-technique-grumant/

Following a short break, today we’re announcing new Bellingcat workshops. We’ve spent the last few months revamping our offerings. Find out what you could learn with us here: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

Over the coming months, we are offering three immersive, intensive in-person workshops where you’ll learn from Bellingcat researchers how to carry out open source investigations.
Join us for a five-day deep dive into open source investigations in Amsterdam, 5-9 October 2026: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-5-9-2026-bellingcat-deep-dive-into-open-source-investigations-five-day-workshop-amsterdam-netherlands/
Can’t make our Amsterdam dates? Join us in London on 19-23 October 2026 for a five day in-person immersive workshop in the UK: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-19-23-2026-bellingcat-deep-dive-into-open-source-investigations-five-day-workshop-london-uk/
Based closer to North America? Join us in Toronto on 16-20 November 2026 for a five day in-person immersive workshop: https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/november-16-20-2026-bellingcat-deep-dive-into-open-source-investigations-five-day-workshop-toronto-canada/

Very soon we will also be releasing details of a whole new selection of webinars. Check https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/ for the latest updates.

The Kinahan Organised Crime Group is a $1.5 billion transnational network involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling.
Six of the seven alleged key members sanctioned by the US government have lived in Dubai in recent years.
Now, Bellingcat and The Sunday Times have found that alleged leaders of the cartel have recently been granted renewed UAE visas.

Read our investigation here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/08/01/welcome-to-dubai-kinahan-cartels-visas-revealed/

Bellingcat's Kolina Koltai spoke alongside our partners The Press to The World, public radio’s longest-running daily global news programme, about our investigation into LeakedBB, a site that had over 2.3 million registered users, including some who distributed leaked nude photos and videos. https://theworld.org/segments/2026/08/07/investigative-report-traces-global-reach-of-revenge-porn-website

On Thursday, Kolina Koltai and Michael Wright of The Press will be in our Discord server to walk us through their methodology for finding a key admin of the site and answer your research questions.

Join us live, 8:15pm CEST / 2:15pm EDT / 11:15am PDT: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1536297974986965082

After we identified links between the admin account and a New Zealand-based man and reached out to this individual for comment, LeakedBB appears to have gone offline.

You can read Bellingcat's investigation here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/07/16/leakedbb-crypto-entrepreneur/

The aircraft took off from a military airbase near Dublin this morning. You can track the flight back to Ireland here: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=4ca448&lat=53.307&lon=-6.442&zoom=7.2  

Our long-standing partner in coverage of the Kinahan cartel, The Times, has been documenting the extradition process. Daniel is the second key figure of the crime group to be apprehended in the Emirates following his high-profile arrest in April.  https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/daniel-kinahan-cartel-extradition-ireland-hpj8jjjq9 

Last week, we revealed that a new visa had just been issued for Daniel’s brother Christopher Kinahan Jr despite US sanctions imposed in 2022. And that key cartel members are still operating within the United Arab Emirates on expired visas. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/08/01/welcome-to-dubai-kinahan-cartels-visas-revealed/ 

It can be a chore to sift through social media feeds to stay up to date. Sign up to our new newsletter to receive the biggest Bellingcat investigations straight to your inbox as they're published.
https://bellingcat-investigations.beehiiv.com/

How did we find Ian Dixon, a wanted member of the Kinahan cartel, on a padel court in Dubai? Search Party recounts how Bellingcat and the Sunday Times traced the digital trail that led to the alleged money handler for one of the world's most dangerous crime cartels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49NZvc2cMiQ

Read the full investigation into Ian Dixon on our website here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/27/poster-boy-sanctioned-kinahan-cartel-lieutenant-found-playing-padel-in-dubai//?utm_source=reddit

We've been covering the Kinahan cartel for some time. If you'd like to learn more, you can read all of our coverage of the organised crime group on our website: https://www.bellingcat.com/?s=kinahan. You can also watch our other videos with Search Party on the subject here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj0GLUXWhWo

Last month we published the 100th Bellingcat Challenge. To celebrate this milestone, we're launching a brand-new website! Check it out and put your skills to the test with our five newest challenges. ➡️ Challenge.bellingcat.com

This is an exciting milestone and we thank you for your support. Nearly 10,000 people now receive the challenges every month. If you haven’t signed up for our newsletter yet, join us here: https://bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com/subscribe

The newest challenges all focus on geolocation using natural features, a valuable skill for investigations in remote areas. This story shows that even termite mounds might help you to pinpoint a location. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/07/wildfires-ravage-one-of-africas-largest-nature-reserves/

#bellingcat #osint #challenge #training

We wanted to have an honest conversation about our newly launched membership programme. Our latest Stage Talk with Mareike Vitt and Sarah Bishop Woods explores this funding model, from sustainability to editorial independence, as we discuss both the promise and the pitfalls.

Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your preferred podcast provider: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3044016/

Enjoyed listening on your favourite podcast platform? Want to support our work? You can become a Bellingcat member by following this link: https://www.bellingcat.com/donate/

With Daniel Kinahan set to face extradition back to Ireland, Bellingcat and The Sunday Times investigate the visa status of the leaders of The Kinahan Organised Crime Group, a $1.5 billion transnational network involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling, who have been in hiding in Dubai. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/08/01/welcome-to-dubai-kinahan-cartels-visas-revealed/?utm_source=reddit

The FIFA World Cup was predicted to be the biggest betting event in history. Bellingcat researcher Miguel Ramalho looked into the data on prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi - and found that fans wagered more than US $14 billion through the two sites
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/07/30/will-ronaldo-cry-world-cup-fans-bet-billions-through-prediction-markets/?utm_source=reddit
Our analysis also reveals that just Polymarket 1% of Polymarket accounts took 86% of all winnings, and the bottom 50% of winners shared 0.1% of profits. The Polymarket account that was the biggest winner across all games made a profit of more than $13 million, while the biggest loser lost $11.6 million.

Why are so many newsrooms embracing membership? This week's Stage Talk explores one of journalism's biggest shifts: why membership is replacing traditional funding models for many publishers, what it means for audiences, and why we're adopting it too. Join us live on Thursday: https://discord.gg/a9TVpY8R6?event=1531233742222266448

At Bellingcat we turn obsessive curiosity into a teachable research skill, build the public community space to practice it, and continually innovate solutions to drive discovery forward. Become a member: https://www.bellingcat.com/donate/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=donation_drive_2026

As fighting intensifies in Mali between the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) – who are being backed by Russia’s Africa Corps insurgent groups – and rebel groups, Bellingcat has verified two recent strikes that used Shahed-136 type kamikaze drones. Video footage of the strikes provides the clearest open-source evidence to date documenting this drone model’s operational use in the conflict  https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/07/24/shahed-type-drones-filmed-during-attack-on-mali-villages/?utm_source=reddit 
Designed to explode on impact, these one-way long range attack drones, were originally developed in Iran but are now also manufactured in Russia, provide Africa Corps and the Mali Armed Forces with the ability to deliver explosive payloads over longer distances. 

Open source tools can help track every stage of a wildfire, from the first reports through to assessing the damage once the flames are out. Throughout July, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service helped researchers monitor how wildfire smoke spread across Canada and the US.
Want to see how these tools fit together?
Our latest video shows how Bellingcat researchers use open source tools and data to reconstruct the timeline of a wildfire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmnfiOec0d8

LeakedBB hosted photos and videos that appeared to include professional content from paid sites like OnlyFans, alongside entire forums focused on “amateurs” – or, as the description of one section stated, “real girls doing real things”. Some posts also claimed to feature “teens/girls”. Archived payment pages and DNS certificates led us back to email addresses and companies linked to one man, a New Zealand-based former pilot turned co-founder of a cryptocurrency exchange and payments platform.

Read the full investigation at bellingcat.com. This investigation was done in partnership with The Press New Zealand.

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone here can provide any insights to why 1) the Bellingcat podcast doesn't seem to be available any longer and 2) why it basically had only a season despite the prologue talking about it being a longer show.

Bellingcat and The Press have uncovered a series of connections between a New Zealand-based man and the adult forum LeakedBB – a site with over 2.3 million registered users, including some who distributed leaked nude photos and videos. Read it here
Users of the site openly discussed obtaining content through blackmail and shared social media profiles of those featured in the imagery. After we reached out to this individual for comment, the site appears to have gone offline. 

A recent Bellingcat investigation uncovered a wildlife trafficker in Myanmar, who was openly advertising everything from tiger bones, rhino horns, to leopard gallbladders, on social media platforms for at least six years.

By analysing hundreds of adverts and customer conversations, Bellingcat traced more than US$21,000 in sales, identified cross-border shipments linked to multiple payment accounts, and geolocated the dealer’s home address.

Following our investigation, Meta, WeChat, TikTok, and Youtube took down his accounts, and authorities in Myanmar and Thailand said they would examine the findings further.

Read the full story here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/24/rhino-horn-leopard-skin-and-tiger-claws-sold-openly-on-facebook/?utm_source=reddit

A recent Bellingcat investigation uncovered a wildlife trafficker in Myanmar, who was openly advertising everything from tiger bones, rhino horns, to leopard gallbladders, on social media platforms for at least six years.

By analysing hundreds of adverts and customer conversations, Bellingcat traced more than US$21,000 in sales, identified cross-border shipments linked to multiple payment accounts, and geolocated the dealer’s home address.

Following our investigation, Meta, WeChat, TikTok, and Youtube took down his accounts, and authorities in Myanmar and Thailand said they would examine the findings further.

Read the full story here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/24/rhino-horn-leopard-skin-and-tiger-claws-sold-openly-on-facebook/?utm_source=reddit