Aric Toler is a New York Times reporter on the visual investigations team, where he combines traditional reporting techniques with advanced open-source methodologies. Previously, he led research and training activities for the investigative journalism site Bellingcat in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. He was involved in investigations into the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and other Russian security service activities in Europe, and the conflict in the Donbas. He coordinated Bellingcat’s training and workshop activities, including both for-profit workshops in the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as pro-bono Russian-language workshops for journalists and researchers in Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He studied Russian literature and linguistics in the United States and Russia.