About

What is Russian Trace

Russian Trace is an independent documentary project dedicated to the systematic collection, verification, and publication of evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

The project is not a media outlet and has no commercial objectives. It is a volunteer initiative aimed at creating a structured, citable, and continuously updated archive of documented crimes with the most comprehensive evidence base possible.

Content is available in three languages: Russian, English, and Spanish. The Russian version is primarily aimed at those seeking well-argued refutations of Russian state propaganda. The English version targets the international legal and journalistic community. The Spanish version extends reach to an audience for whom information on this topic is virtually unavailable.

About the Author

Sergei Edziev — founder of Russian Trace

My name is Sergei Edziev.

I am a citizen of the Russian Federation, a native of Saint Petersburg.

I am not a journalist, not a lawyer, not a human rights worker. I have no newsroom and no sponsors. What I have is a conviction that when your country is killing people, staying silent means agreeing. This project is my attempt not to stay silent.

Methodology

Every publication on Russian Trace is built on the principle of aggregation and verification. The project does not conduct its own field investigations but systematizes and cross-checks information from multiple independent sources.

Types of Sources Used

  • International investigations — reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (OHCHR), and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • OSINT research — materials from Bellingcat, Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), the Belaruski Hayun project, and other verified OSINT communities.
  • Official statements and documents — materials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, PACE resolutions, and ICC statements.
  • Reputable media — BBC, The New York Times, Reuters, AP, Deutsche Welle, and other outlets with established credibility.
  • Primary evidence — satellite imagery, photos and videos with verified geolocation, and eyewitness testimonies.

Source Standards

  • Admission criteria — the project only uses sources with transparent methodology or established reputation: international organizations (UN, OHCHR, ICC), major media outlets with editorial standards (AP, Reuters, BBC, NYT), and verified OSINT groups (Bellingcat, CIT).
  • Definition of independence — sources are considered independent when they do not reference each other and employ different methods of information gathering. A Maxar satellite image, an OHCHR field visit, and a CCTV recording constitute three independent pieces of evidence. Two media outlets citing the same press release do not.
  • Handling discrepancies — when data from different sources diverges, all estimates are presented with an explanation of each source's methodology. The project does not cherry-pick a convenient figure but presents the range and explains why estimates differ.

Principles of Information Handling

  • Cross-verification — every key fact is confirmed by at least two independent sources.
  • Direct references — every claim is accompanied by a link to a specific report, document, or publication. Readers can independently verify any stated fact.
  • Separation of facts and analysis — documentary articles present facts without editorial interpretation. Analytical and opinion pieces are labeled separately.
  • Continuous updates — articles are supplemented as new data emerges. The date of the last update is indicated in each publication.
  • Transparency of limitations — if information is incomplete or a source raises doubts, this is explicitly stated.

Project Position

Russian Trace does not claim "objectivity" in the sense that the term is used to equate the aggressor and the victim. The project is founded on the position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an unprovoked aggression and that strikes on civilians are war crimes. This position aligns with the conclusions of the UN, the International Criminal Court, and the majority of international human rights organizations.

At the same time, all factual claims in the materials are based exclusively on verifiable evidence. Authorial text is present in analytical articles but always relies on a documentary foundation.

Contact

If you have additional materials, corrections, or collaboration proposals:

The project is open to collaboration with journalists, human rights organizations, lawyers, and researchers.