Europol OSINT hackathon traces 45 forcibly transferred Ukrainian children

On 16 and 17 April 2026, Europol and the Netherlands co-hosted a two-day OSINT hackathon in The Hague bringing together 40 investigators from 18 countries plus the ICC and several NGOs. Using open-source intelligence tools, the team compiled 45 reports containing potential location data and transport routes for children deported to Russian-occupied territories, Russia, and Belarus. The reports include data on military units, individuals who received children, camps and facilities involved, and online platforms where images appeared. Results have been shared with Ukrainian authorities.