Intelligence
Who watches Russia's war, and how — the think tanks, open-source collectives, loss trackers, government sources and Telegram channels worth knowing, each with what you get there and which side it speaks for.
Start with the side you need. Ukrainian sources are closest to the front and to recovered Russian hardware. Western institutes put events into a strategic frame. Independent collectives verify with photos and geolocation. Russian outlets are listed because they are the adversary speaking for itself: read them as claims, not facts.
Telegram channels carry a grade from A (reliable) to F, with a note on why. The full profiles above go deeper into a few groups.
Full profiles
- Bellingcat
Dutch-based open-source investigations collective that builds and tests automation and geolocation tooling for conflict research.
- Centre for Information Resilience
UK non-profit whose Eyes on Russia map pairs automated archiving with human verification to document the war in Ukraine.
- Janes
British defence-intelligence house whose validated open-source datasets feed AI and machine-learning systems that track foreign militaries.
- Molfar
Ukrainian OSINT firm that turns verified open-source data into target packages for Ukrainian forces and into training data for combat AI.
- Oryx
Dutch open-source analysts whose photo-verified equipment-loss tally has become the reference dataset for the Ukraine war.
- Russia Telegram (milblogger OSINT)
The Russian war-Telegram ecosystem — milblogger channels that double as an open-source intelligence feed on drones, the drone-component market, and battlefield technology.
- Texty.org.ua
Ukrainian data-journalism outfit that trains machine-learning models to flag Russian disinformation and map the war.
Directory 113 sources
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- ACLED Independent
Research programme · United States
Conflict event data
Coded event data on strikes and fighting in Ukraine
- ANNA NEWS Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 237K subscribers
Russian milblogger
long-running pro-war news desk; operational reports and official lines
- ASTRA Independent
Telegram channel · grade B · 340K subscribers
Independent
exiled Russian newsroom; fastest reliable reporting on strikes inside Russia and on defence-industry incidents
- Baltic Signal Monitor Independent
Telegram channel · grade D · 14 subscribers
News aggregator
automated republisher: posts machine-written 'Baltic Signal Digest' alerts assembled from other publishers' feeds, 14 subscribers. Carries no reporting of its own, so it can restate a claim that is already in this list and look like a second origin — graded D and marked aggregator so it cannot corroborate anything by itself. Kept for its early-warning timing, not its content
- BALTNEWS Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 24.5K subscribers
Russian state media
largest Russian-language channel covering the Baltics; an arm of Rossiya Segodnya, the state media conglomerate. Read for the narrative, never for the fact
- barantchik Russian
Telegram channel · grade C
Russian milblogger
milblogger commentary
- Bellingcat Independent
OSINT collective · Netherlands
Open-source investigations
Long-form investigations with published methods, and a civilian-harm map of the war
Full profile → - Black Bird Group Independent
OSINT collective · Finland
Finnish OSINT group analysing the front
Frontline analysis and loss assessments
- Boris Rozhin (Colonel Cassad) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C
Russian milblogger
Colonel Cassad; long-running, well-connected, partisan
- Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) Independent
OSINT collective · United Kingdom
Verified incident mapping of the war
The Eyes on Russia map of verified strikes, deployments and damage
Full profile → - Clash Report Western
Telegram channel · grade C · 110K subscribers
Independent
conflict video/news desk
- CNA Western
Think tank · United States
Russia studies programme
Analyses of Russian military doctrine and adaptation
- Conflict Armament Research Independent
Research programme · United Kingdom
Weapon and component tracing
Field documentation of weapons, including the origin of components in Shahed/Geran drones
- Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) Independent
OSINT collective · Russia (in exile)
Russian independent analysts tracking the Russian military
Regular sitreps on Russian forces, weapons, losses and mobilisation
- Critical Threats Western
Think tank · United States
AEI's threat-tracking project that co-produces the ISW Russia–Ukraine updates
Joint updates with ISW and Iran/Middle East coverage relevant to Iranian support for Russia
- CSIS Western
Think tank · United States
Strategy and military analysis
Analyses of Russian drone and missile campaigns and production
- DeepState Ukrainian
Tracker · Ukraine
Ukrainian frontline map updated daily
The most widely used daily map of front-line control in Ukraine
- DeepState Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade B · 766K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
frontline mapping; conservative, multi-source before moving lines
- Defense Express Ukrainian
Defence media · Ukraine
Ukrainian defence analysis
Technical analyses of Russian weapons, including Shahed/Geran teardowns
- DFRLab (Atlantic Council) Western
Research programme · United States
Digital forensics and information operations
Research on Russian influence and disinformation operations
- EUvsDisinfo Western
Government · European Union
EU East StratCom task force
A database of documented Russian disinformation cases
- Faytuks Network Western
Telegram channel · grade B · 1.68K subscribers
Independent
fast conflict/OSINT wire; NATO and Baltic incidents usually break here early
- Fighterbomber Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 518K subscribers
Russian milblogger
retired VKS pilot; earliest and most reliable RU source on aircraft losses and airfield strikes; heavily cited in Western reporting
- FPV_выZOV Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 66K subscribers
Russian milblogger
RU FPV units; drone builds; EW
- Frontelligence Insight Ukrainian
OSINT collective · Ukraine
Ukrainian analyst team publishing intelligence-style reports
Reports on Russian force generation, production and logistics
- Frontelligence Insight (Tatarigami) Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade B · 2.4K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
Frontelligence Insight; analytic reports; European aid math
- GeoConfirmed Independent
OSINT collective · International
Volunteer geolocation of war footage
A map of geolocated videos and images from the war
- Global News Monitor Western
Telegram channel · grade C · 155K subscribers
News aggregator
fast conflict aggregation
- HUR War & Sanctions Ukrainian
Government · Ukraine
Ukrainian military intelligence database of foreign components
Component-level lists for Russian drones and missiles, with manufacturers
- IISS Western
Think tank · United Kingdom
Military balance and force analysis
The Military Balance and analyses of Russian capabilities and weapons programmes
- InformNapalm Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade B · 132K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
volunteer OSINT community; documented investigations
Think tank · United States
Proliferation research
Satellite-imagery reports on the Alabuga Geran plant and Iranian drone transfers
Think tank · United States
Daily campaign assessments of Russia's war
The daily Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, frontline control maps and key takeaways
- Intel Slava Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 395K subscribers
News aggregator
English-facing pro-RU aggregation; reposts
- International Crisis Group Independent
Think tank · Belgium
Conflict analysis
Reports on the war and its diplomacy
- ISD Western
Research programme · United Kingdom
Extremism and disinformation research
Research on Russian state media and online influence
- Jamestown Foundation Western
Think tank · United States
Eurasia Daily Monitor and Russian military analysis
Regular commentary on Russian military developments
- Janes Independent
Defence media · United Kingdom
Defence intelligence publisher
Equipment data and defence news on Russian and Ukrainian systems
Full profile → - Kotsnews (Александр Коц) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 476K subscribers
Russian milblogger
KP war correspondent; frequent Germany/Taurus framing
- KSE Institute Ukrainian
Research programme · Ukraine
Kyiv School of Economics research
Research on sanctions, Russia's shadow fleet and war costs
- Liveuamap Western
Telegram channel · grade B · 6.47K subscribers
News aggregator
geolocated incident wire; each item carries a place, which is what makes border movement legible
- Lostarmour Russian
Russian outlet · Russia
Russian-run tracker of Ukrainian equipment losses
Russian-side loss claims and footage, including Lancet strike records — read as claims
- Mediazona casualty count Independent
Tracker · Russia (in exile)
Named Russian military deaths
A database of confirmed Russian military deaths by name, region and unit
- Militarnyi Ukrainian
Defence media · Ukraine
Ukrainian military news and weapons analysis
Reporting on Russian and Ukrainian systems, satellite imagery of Russian plants
- Militaryland Independent
Tracker
Order of battle and unit tracking
Unit-level maps and orders of battle for both armies
- Molfar Ukrainian
OSINT collective · Ukraine
Ukrainian OSINT agency
Investigations into Russian military-industrial supply chains and personnel
Full profile → - NARVA-IVANGOROD Independent
Telegram channel · grade D · 2.81K subscribers
Independent
local bulletin on both sides of the Narva crossing; daily crossing status and how restrictions land in practice. Community reporting, not journalism — useful as ground truth on enforcement, weak on why
- Oryx Independent
Tracker · Netherlands
Photo-verified equipment losses for both sides
Item-by-item loss lists where every entry links to its photo or video evidence
- OSINT for Ukraine Ukrainian
OSINT collective
Student-led OSINT investigations
Investigations into Russian war crimes and propaganda
- OSINTdefender Western
Telegram channel · grade B · 6K subscribers
Independent
Western OSINT feed; NATO/DE/NL announcements
- OSW Centre for Eastern Studies Western
Think tank · Poland
Polish state think tank on Russia and Eastern Europe
Analyses of Russian politics, economy and war industry
- Pan-Baltic News Network Western
Telegram channel · grade C · 557 subscribers
Independent
small English-language Baltic news feed; provenance of individual items not established, so it counter-checks rather than corroborates
- RAND Western
Think tank · United States
Defence research
Studies of Russian military capability and the war's lessons
- Readovka Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 2.0M subscribers
Russian state media
mass-market state-aligned news
- Romanov Лайт Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 152K subscribers
Russian milblogger
milblogger analysis; drone/EW commentary
- RUSI Western
Think tank · United Kingdom
British defence think tank
Field-based studies of Russian tactics, electronic warfare and the components in Russian weapons
Telegram channel · grade D · 20K subscribers
Russian state media
Russian embassy Berlin — Germany-specific state messaging
- Rybar Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 1.5M subscribers
Russian milblogger
largest RU military-analysis channel; founder is an ex-MoD press officer; receives MoD material early; occasionally criticises MoD (credibility tactic) — adversary-controlled information node
- Rybar in English Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 80K subscribers
Russian milblogger
Rybar's English arm — same provenance as rybar
- Soldaten & Reservisten Western
Telegram channel · grade D · 9.7K subscribers
Independent
German soldiers/reservists community; sentiment, not reporting
- STERNENKO Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 895K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
mass FPV fundraiser; strike footage; advocacy
- TERRA Розвідка Інфо Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 105K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
recon/strike unit channel
- Texty.org.ua Ukrainian
Investigative media · Ukraine
Data journalism and disinformation research
Data-driven investigations into Russian propaganda and the war
Full profile → - The Insider Independent
Investigative media · Russia (in exile)
Russian independent investigative outlet
Investigations into the Russian military, security services and industry
- U_G_M Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 78K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
UA analytical channel
- UAV Development (UAVDEV) Russian
Telegram channel · grade B
Russian defence industry
UAV developer community; consistent technical detail, teardowns; still partisan
- Ukraine NOW Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade D · 417K subscribers
Ukrainian media
mass UA news aggregator
- Ukrinform Ukrainian
Government · Ukraine
Ukrainian national news agency
Official Ukrainian statements and military reporting
- Victory Drones Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade B
Ukrainian volunteer
UA drone-training/volunteer network; technical, self-interested
- WarGonzo Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 749K subscribers
Russian milblogger
Semyon Pegov, embedded frontline reporting doubling as recruitment propaganda
- WarSpotting Independent
Tracker
Geolocated and dated equipment losses
A searchable database of documented losses with locations and dates
- WarTranslated Western
Telegram channel · grade B · 17K subscribers
Independent
translates RU/UA posts faithfully; direct window into RU channel claims
- Zvezdanews «Звезда» Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 125K subscribers
Russian state media
MoD-owned broadcaster
- Агентство. Новости (Agentstvo) Independent
Telegram channel · grade B · 102K subscribers
Independent
exiled Russian investigative desk; defence procurement, sanctions evasion and component supply chains
Telegram channel · grade C · 317K subscribers
Russian milblogger
DNR commander turned commentator; long-form political and strategic essays
Telegram channel · grade D · 19.3K subscribers
Russian state media
same network as Baltic Bridge; 'antifascist' framing is the standard Kremlin register for Baltic governments
- Балтийский мост (Baltic Bridge) Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 6.54K subscribers
Russian state media
identified by OSINT researchers as a node in Kremlin-funded influence networks targeting Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltics
Telegram channel · grade B · 43.5K subscribers
Russian defence industry
RU unmanned-systems trade channel; covers the national BAS programme, named manufacturers and robotics rather than frontline claims
- Беспилотники (дроны, БПЛА, UAV) Russian
Telegram channel · grade B · 18K subscribers
Russian defence industry
UAV technology, avionics, payloads, counter-UAS incl. Western systems — best technical channel
- Бутусов Плюс Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 348K subscribers
Ukrainian media
critical mil journalism; procurement politics
- Владимир Рогов Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 100K subscribers
Russian state media
occupation official; strike/UAV claims are political messaging
- Военкор Котенок Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 315K subscribers
Russian milblogger
war correspondent; weapons/UAV commentary
Telegram channel · grade C · 750K subscribers
Russian milblogger
Military Informant; tech-heavy digest, pro-Kremlin
- Воин DV Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 147K subscribers
Russian milblogger
unit-level frontline + FPV footage
Telegram channel · grade C · 4.17K subscribers
Russian state media
FGKU Rosgranstroy — the agency that operates Russia's border checkpoints. Primary source for its OWN measures: a closure it announces is a closure. Graded above the other ru-state channels for that reason, and no higher, because it publishes selectively and never gives a reason
- ГУР МО України Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 226K subscribers
Ukrainian official
military intelligence; deep-strike/UAV ops claims
- Два майора (Two Majors) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C
Russian milblogger
Two Majors; high-volume, mobilisation-minded milblogger
- ДРОННИЦА (Dronnitsa) Russian
Telegram channel · grade B
Russian defence industry
drone community; hardware and EW specifics
- Ескадрон (Escadrone) Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 25K subscribers
Ukrainian volunteer
Ukrainian FPV maker; industry perspective
- Захар Прилепин (Zakhar Prilepin) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 226K subscribers
Russian milblogger
writer-politician; cultural and political commentary, little technical content
- МАДЯР (Robert Brovdi) Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 600K subscribers
Ukrainian official
commander Unmanned Systems Forces; operational, self-interested
- МИГ России (MIG Rossii) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 474K subscribers
Russian milblogger
Kremlin-politics commentary; military events read through a political lens
- МИД России Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 140K subscribers
Russian state media
MFA statements; diplomatic messaging
- Минобороны России Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 638K subscribers
Russian state media
Russian MoD briefings; claims routinely unverifiable
- Мир сегодня с Юрий Подоляка Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 2.68M subscribers
Russian milblogger
largest RU milblogger analyst; strategic commentary incl. Europe
Telegram channel · grade C
Russian defence industry
drone industry aggregator
- Оперативний ЗСУ Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade D · 370K subscribers
News aggregator
high-volume UA war feed; reposts
Telegram channel · grade D · 1.46M subscribers
News aggregator
high-volume aggregation of strikes/UAV/EW; reposts, little original verification
- Повёрнутые на войне Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 668K subscribers
Russian milblogger
weapons/tech-minded war channel
- Поддубный |Z|O|V| edition Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 573K subscribers
Russian milblogger
VGTRK state correspondent; tech/EW takes on Western systems
- Ростех (Rostec) Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 42.8K subscribers
Russian state media
state defence conglomerate's own channel; first-party production and new-system announcements — promotional, but authoritative on what Rostec claims to be building
- Русская Весна Z Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 132K subscribers
Russian state media
partisan war newswire
Telegram channel · grade B
Russian defence industry
engineer-minded commentary; technical claims usually specific and checkable
Telegram channel · grade D · 223K subscribers
News aggregator
rapid situational aggregation; unverified
- Сили безпілотних систем ЗСУ Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 34K subscribers
Ukrainian official
Unmanned Systems Forces official
- СИЛОВИКИ (Siloviki) Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 185K subscribers
News aggregator
security-sector aggregator; republishes strike footage and defence-industry items, so origins must be traced back
- Сладков+ Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 700K subscribers
Russian milblogger
veteran state-TV war correspondent
- Служба безпеки України Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 299K subscribers
Ukrainian official
SBU official; Sea Baby / deep-strike ops claims
- СОЛОВЬЁВ Russian
Telegram channel · grade D · 1.1M subscribers
Russian state media
state propaganda talk-show feed; rhetoric, not reporting
- Старше Эдды (Older than Edda) Russian
Telegram channel · grade C · 489K subscribers
Russian milblogger
military-political commentary; hardware appears inside strategic narrative, rarely as technical detail
- УНИАН Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 711K subscribers
Ukrainian media
UA news agency (Russian-language)
- Хроника оператора БпЛА Russian
Telegram channel · grade B · 55K subscribers
Russian defence industry
drone-operator POV; FPV/EW tradecraft; specific
- ЦАПЛІЄНКО_UKRAINE FIGHTS Ukrainian
Telegram channel · grade C · 323K subscribers
Ukrainian media
war reporter
No source matches those filters.