Khthon documents mass graves, atrocity crimes, and forensic evidence from conflict zones worldwide. Our work is strictly humanitarian and apolitical.
This site may contain imagery and descriptions of deceased individuals, violent injuries, and human remains gathered in the course of active investigations. Content is presented for accountability and documentation purposes only.
Khthon documents mass graves, atrocity crimes, and forensic evidence from conflict zones worldwide. Our work is strictly humanitarian and apolitical.
This site may contain imagery and descriptions of deceased individuals, violent injuries, and human remains gathered in the course of active investigations.
About Us · Project Khthon
Locating, analysing, and reporting mass graves and war crimes in hidden conflicts around the world.
01 · Identity
Formed in 2022, Khthon is an OSINT and SATINT-based humanitarian NGO that locates, analyses, and reports mass graves and other war crimes in hidden conflicts around the world.
We operate at the intersection of satellite imagery analysis, open-source intelligence, and forensic documentation — building a systematic record of atrocities that might otherwise vanish into silence.
Our work spans active conflict zones and post-conflict regions, producing rigorous, academically grounded reports that serve journalists, tribunals, researchers, and human rights bodies.
χθων — Ancient Greek · Origin of the name “Khthon”
Depending on context, can mean “of the soil” or “of the underworld” — we think it is quite a smart piece of wordplay considering our speciality in finding mass graves and the people in them.
02 · Principles
At Khthon, we are steadfast in our commitment to neutrality and non-partisanship. In alignment with core humanitarian and academic principles, we ensure that our actions are objective, impartial, and independent.
Our focus remains solely on the humanitarian imperative to protect life and health, and to ensure respect for human dignity.
We do not engage in political, racial, religious, or ideological conflicts, nor do we take sides in hostilities.
01
Neutrality
We take no sides in conflict. Our analysis follows evidence, not allegiance.
02
Impartiality
Affected populations are the measure of our work — not political outcomes.
03
Independence
No government, military, or institutional body directs our reporting or conclusions.
04
Dignity
The remains and identities of victims are treated with full forensic and human respect.
03 · Leadership
Investigative Team
Founder & Director
Sam McKnight is the Founder and Director of Khthon. A humanitarian investigator, leader, and digital storyteller, he established Khthon in 2022 to document war crimes and locate mass graves using open-source intelligence, satellite imagery, and digital analysis.
What began as a small volunteer effort has grown into an organisation with over 100 contributors that collaborates with journalists, NGOs, and legal experts to bring evidence and accountability to some of the world’s most hidden atrocities.
In 2025, Sam launched KALOS, a sister initiative focused on rehabilitation and mental health support for survivors of torture and imprisonment, beginning with post-Assad Syria. His work is driven by the conviction that documentation must be paired with tangible positive impact for survivors.
Research Director
Laura Smith is the Research Director at Khthon, where she leads analytical operations and oversees the integration of OSINT, GEOINT/SATINT, and HUMINT to identify mass graves and expose war crimes in conflict zones worldwide.
With a strong background in multidisciplinary intelligence and geospatial analysis, Laura applies spatial and network analysis to uncover hidden patterns in complex environments. She ensures that all Khthon reporting meets rigorous standards of verification and transparency.
Deputy Research Director
Thomas Thirkell takes an assisting lead in the management of the investigation teams. He focuses on HUMINT over more traditional OSINT sources, aiming to gather current boots-on-the-ground information and provide his teams with effective reliable data from sources closest to the conflict. He particularly focuses on cross-organisational level partnerships and collaborative work with skilled individuals. Forensic pathologists, journalists, partner NGOs and university lecturers are examples of the extensive network Thomas creates for Khthon.
Board of Directors
Board Member
Eric Czuleger is a geopolitical analyst, investigative journalist, and founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report. Trained at Geopolitical Futures under George Friedman, he holds an MS in National Security from the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an MSt in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford.
He has reported from more than 45 countries, with deep source networks across the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. He is the author of You Are Not Here: Travels Through Countries That Don’t Exist and a returned Peace Corps volunteer. Based in Tirana, Albania, with a foothold in Los Angeles, his work focuses on the structural, systems-level forces driving global instability.
Board Member
Tom Mutch is a New Zealand-born, Ukraine-based freelance journalist specialising in crime and conflict. Before moving into the field, he worked as a researcher in the UK Parliament, focusing on defence and security.
He has spent four years on the ground in Ukraine covering the war, and has previously reported from Nagorno-Karabakh. His work has appeared in The Daily Beast, openDemocracy, Der Spiegel, POLITICO, the BBC, and Channel 4, and has been widely cited in international media as well as on Ukraine’s official channels and President Zelensky’s accounts. The Kremlin banned him from Russia over his reporting on human rights abuses — he went into Kursk with the Ukrainian Army anyway. He joins Khthon to contribute investigative expertise and experience operating in complex, high-risk environments.
Board Member
Bertie Wooley has been with Khthon since April 2024, focusing primarily on the Sahel region and Ukraine. His background as a British Army reconnaissance soldier and now a commissioned Royal Air Force officer specialising in force protection and counter-UAS has given him an understanding of exactly the kinds of environments Khthon works in, and of the people caught within them.
As a Board Director, his intention is to help protect and uphold what Khthon stands for: ensuring the organisation stays true to its mission, and to the people it serves.
04 · Press
Featured Coverage
05 · FAQ
Khthon is a humanitarian NGO using satellite imagery (SATINT), OSINT, and forensic documentation to locate, monitor, and report on mass graves and war crimes in conflict zones worldwide.
We cross-reference high-resolution satellite imagery for surface disturbances, soil displacement, and access patterns — corroborated against OSINT sources including social media, survivor testimony, official records, and field reports.
No. Khthon is strictly non-partisan and apolitical. Our analysis follows evidence, not allegiance. We document atrocities regardless of the identity of the perpetrator.
Yes. We are always looking for analysts, researchers, legal professionals, developers, and domain experts. Visit our volunteer page to apply.
You can reach us at contact@projectkhthon.com. For sensitive information, please use our secure tip line.
