NeatLabs - OSINT Demo - Map Interpretation

 

Analysis Report

### OSINT Analysis of the Image

#### General Information:
- **Title**: Assessed Control of Terrain East of Pokrovsk as of December 1, 2024, 1:30 PM ET
- **Source**: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Critical Threats Project
- **Map Creators**: George Barros, Kateryna Stepanenko, Noel Mikkelsen, Daniel Mealie, Mitchell Belcher, Tom Thacker, Harrison Witt, David Schiatt, and Spencer Sorrenty
- **Date**: December 1, 2024
- **Time**: 1:30 PM ET

#### Map Elements:
1. **Geographical Focus**:
- The map focuses on the terrain east of Pokrovsk, Ukraine.
- Key locations marked include Pokrovsk, Selydove, Kurakhove, and surrounding areas.

2. **Control Indicators**:
- **Assessed Russian-controlled Ukrainian Territory**: Marked in solid red.
- **Assessed Russian Advances in Ukraine**: Marked with red dashed lines.
- **Claimed Russian Control over Ukrainian Territory**: Marked in yellow.
- **Claimed Ukrainian Counteroffensives**: Marked in blue (none visible on this map).
- **Russian Field Fortifications**: Marked with brown lines.

3. **City Limits**:
- **Pokrovsk City Limits**: Marked with a solid black line.

4. **Geolocated Footage**:
- **North of Zholte**: Footage from November 30 indicates Russian forces advanced north of Zholte.
- **Pustyka**: Footage from November 28 indicates Russian forces seized Pustyka.
- **Yurivka**: Footage from November 30 indicates Russian forces seized Yurivka.
- **Stari Terny**: A Russian source claimed on November 30 that Russian forces advanced to Stari Terny.

5. **Highlighted Areas**:
- Three green circles highlight specific areas of interest or conflict zones around Pokrovsk, Selydove, and Kurakhove.

6. **Scale**:
- The map includes a scale bar indicating distances in kilometers (0, 4, 8, 16 km).

7. **Compass**:
- A compass rose is present in the top left corner, indicating cardinal directions (N, E, S, W).

8. **Annotations**:
- Text boxes provide additional information about geolocated footage and claims of territorial control.

9. **Logos**:
- The map includes logos for the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Critical Threats Project, along with the name "Dr. Jack London Geospatial Fund."

#### Analysis:
- **Conflict Dynamics**: The map illustrates the dynamic and contested nature of the terrain east of Pokrovsk, with multiple areas under Russian control or influence.
- **Strategic Locations**: Key towns and their control status are highlighted, indicating strategic importance.
- **Information Sources**: The map relies on geolocated footage and claims from sources, suggesting a reliance on open-source intelligence for situational awareness.
- **Temporal Aspect**: The map is time-stamped, providing a snapshot of the situation as of a specific date and time, useful for tracking changes over time.

This map serves as a visual representation of the territorial control and military advances in the specified region, useful for analysts, policymakers, and the public to understand the current state of the conflict.