RUSSIAN INTERNET | The Investigator

Investigating the Russian Internet using Open-Source Techniques, 29 September 2026

This exclusive workshop offers a unique insight into the Russian internet - the online behaviours of Russian speakers and the specific characteristics of the Russian internet.

It will provide best practice around ways to navigate these challenges to conduct effective online investigations using Open-Source Intelligence Techniques.

It is aimed at investigators and analysts who want to develop their knowledge and skills around the Russian internet. It is also ideal for investigators and analysts with existing knowledge who want to refresh their skills.

Held online via Teams

Certificates of CPD available.

Aims/Objectives:

Demystifying the Russian Internet (RuNet): Providing a map of the Russian domestic internet, including its own platforms and ‘Sovereign Internet’ restrictions.
Tactical Adaptation: Teaching participants how to bypass linguistic barriers and use Russian-native search logic.
Identity Resolution: Demonstrating techniques for tracing individuals across Russian web.
Corporate Transparency: Russian corporate structure verification, sanctions compliance, and leaked data assets.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Navigate with Cultural Intelligence: Accurately apply transliteration standards and leverage Russian internet "slang" and naming conventions to improve search precision.
Navigate the Russian Ecosystem with more proficiency.
Bypass Information Controls: Understand and learn how to deal with Russian restrictions of information availability.
Execute People Searches: Utilize specialized online services and methods for investigating people on Russian web.
Audit Corporate Entities: Access and interpret official government registers and commercial databases to identify beneficial ownership and sanctions risk.

AGENDA - BST

9.20am-9.30am: Welcome and introduction, Carol Jenkins, The Investigator

9.30am-10.30am: Session One: Understanding Russian Internet (RuNet)

What it is / Linguistic barriers and transliteration
Russian internet culture
Russian Domestic Platform Ecosystem: social media (VK, OK, Telegram), Search Engines (Yandex), Other important online portals (Avito, Pikabu, Rutube...)

10.30am-10.40am: Questions

10.40am-11am: Break

11am-Noon: Session Two: Governance, Surveillance and Information Control

Internet governance ecosystem
Key laws governing the Internet
Mechanisms of control
Information warfare & Media ecosystem

Noon-12.10pm: Questions

12.10pm-12.30pm: Break

12.30pm-1.30pm: Session Three: Investigating people on Russian web

Account creation (sock puppet accounts)
OPSEC
Naming convention
Social media
Facial recognition
Russian Emails and Phone Numbers

1.30pm-1.40pm: Questions

1.40pm-1.50pm: Break

1.50pm-2.50pm: Session Four: Corporate investigations

Government databases
Commercial databases
Breached data and forums
Sanctions data

2.50pm-3pm: Questions

3pm: workshop finishes

Our expert speaker

Vytenis Benetis has worked as an intelligence analyst for almost a decade.

His professional experience covers a wide range of missions and organisations including the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, NATO, and the European Union on both the operational and strategic level.

While working as an analyst, and later as a team leader, Vytenis developed practical solutions to tackling large information flows and delivering actionable intelligence to senior decision makers.

Since joining i-intelligence, Vytenis has provided research, training and advisory services to public and private sector clients around the World. His mandates have spanned a range of intelligence disciplines including criminal intelligence, cyber intelligence, fraud investigations, and general open source and social media investigations.

HOW TO BOOK

Cost: £245 + VAT (GBP) per delegate per workshop (LEA and Government Agency rate). £295+ VAT (Industry rate), per delegate

Group bookings: We offer various discounts for group bookings depending on numbers, please contact us for details.

Student discount: We offer a 25% discount on all of our online events/workshops on condition of payment by card and a valid University email address.

Booking: Please send the delegates name(s), email address(es) and purchase order (made out to The Investigator) to booking@the-investigator.co.uk or telephone +44(0)844 660 8707 for further information.

Payment can be made by PayPal/debit/credit card. The meeting link will be sent out 7 days before the event.