Spy Museum Launches First Online Exhibition, “Open Source: Ukraine & The Intelligence Revolution”
Exhibit Demonstrates How Publicly Accessible Data (Social Media, News, Flight Logs, etc.) Drives Intelligence Collection
WASHINGTON – May 15, 2025 – As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the International Spy Museum (SPY) is bringing the public into the intelligence trenches of this critical conflict with a slate of exhibition initiatives, starting with the Museum’s first-ever online exhibition, “Open Source: Ukraine & The Intelligence Revolution,” which goes live today. The online exhibit spotlights the little-known but increasingly ubiquitous practice of Open Source Intelligence gathering and uses the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a case study. This conflict is known colloquially as the first Open Source intelligence war.
Historically, nations relied on clandestine sources and methods in gathering their intelligence, but today this dependence has shifted heavily towards publicly available information, otherwise known as Open Source Intelligence. The changing technology of the day – printing press, radio, the Internet – drives how much public-facing information is available, with each evolution in information technology expanding access dramatically. Now, individuals share their own personal data, locations, photos, and preferences on social media freely, all of which can be seen by anyone online, including professional intelligence analysts, future employers, bad actors, or someone’s future date.
Through videos, screenshots, and maps, the Museum utilizes examples from modern history, including the war in Ukraine, in its online exhibit to demystify this expansive subject and help the public better understand the capabilities and risks of the data-rich world around them.
“We are seeing a revolution in intelligence driven by access to online information that was unheard of just a decade ago,” shares Kathryn Keane, Vice President of Exhibitions and Collections at the International Spy Museum. “‘Open Source’ is a dynamic digital exhibition that explores this story. It uses the war in Ukraine as a case study for how military intelligence has been supercharged through access to online information and social media.”
To complement the new online exhibit, the Museum developed an on-site pop-up exhibit with artifacts from the ongoing War in Ukraine also set to open today. “Touched By War: Artifacts from Ukraine” tells the story of the complex conflict through a broader intelligence lens, highlighting the critical role intelligence has played in shaping military strategies, diplomatic responses, propaganda, and public perception.
“As a life-long intelligence professional, I am thrilled that GDIT is partnering with the International Spy Museum,” shares Aaron Bedrowsky, senior vice president, Intelligence and Homeland Security at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). “The Museum’s reach and remarkable ability to bring intelligence out of the shadows is refreshing in a world where so many of the great successes remain classified. The OSINT exhibit is a real-time peek into the technology and professionals who extract meaningful intelligence from the sea of content published every second.”
For a limited time until May 30, the Museum is displaying in its lobby an Iranian drone, the notorious Shahed136, downed in Ukrainian territory and exfiltrated by Ukrainian and Polish special forces. The Shahed, considered the most lethal and widely deployed terror weapon of mass destruction, is a rare example of an unexploded munition, and is evidence of the relationship and covert weapons deal between Iran and Russia. This artifact is on loan from United Against Nuclear Iran.
“Open Source: Ukraine & The Intelligence Revolution” was developed by the International Spy Museum with support of General Dynamics Information Technology.
Please reach out for additional information. The Museum media team can also set up interviews with our curatorial staff and leadership about the new online exhibit, as appropriate. More information is available at OSINT.spymuseum.org.
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About the International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum, an independent nonprofit organization, is the only public museum in the United States to lift the veil on the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage and intelligence from a global perspective. The Museum’s mission is to create compelling exhibitions and other learning experiences that shed light on the shadow world of espionage and intelligence, educating and challenging each of us to engage critically with the complex world around us. The Museum's collection chronicles the history of espionage, from its inception to the modern-day challenges facing intelligence professionals worldwide in the 21st century. The original Spy Museum opened in 2002. Its new, expanded building and all-new exhibitions opened in May 2019 to much acclaim.
For more information, please visit spymuseum.org.