How an investigative journalist uses open-source data to unmask clandestine Russian intelligence operations

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Christo Grozev transformed investigative journalism by applying big-data analysis to uncover state-sponsored secrets. From identifying suspects in high-profile poisoning cases to tracking covert agents across borders, his work relies on publicly available information. This methodology has earned him international acclaim, prestigious awards, and the persistent enmity of the Russian state.

Born in Plovdiv in 1969, Christo Grozev began his career in radio before building a significant media portfolio across Europe. His transition into investigative reporting led him to Bellingcat in 2015, where he pioneered the use of open-source intelligence to track Russian intelligence activities. Grozev’s investigations have been instrumental in identifying individuals linked to the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the 2016 Montenegrin coup plot, and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. His work on the latter earned him the European Press Prize for Investigative Journalism in 2019.

Grozev’s methodology, which he describes as data-driven investigative journalism, often involves cross-referencing social media and other digital footprints to expose clandestine operations. This approach was central to the 2022 documentary film Navalny, which chronicled the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and won both a BAFTA and an Academy Award. Despite his success, his high-profile reporting has made him a target. In December 2022, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs placed him on a wanted list, and in April 2023, a Moscow court ordered his arrest in absentia over allegations of spreading false information.

The risks associated with his work are tangible. British investigators have detailed a campaign known as Operation Vienna, in which a group of agents allegedly spied on Grozev, infiltrated his apartment, and stole his computer. The operation was reportedly coordinated by Jan Marsalek, who later fled to Russia. In 2025, several individuals involved in this espionage ring faced trial in Britain. Today, Grozev continues his work as an investigative journalist for The Insider and Der Spiegel, while also sharing his expertise in forensic journalism and data-driven storytelling with students.

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