Tim Mak
@timkmak.bsky.social
Founder, The Counteroffensive: Compelling human stories to illustrate news of the war in Ukraine. Fmr US Army medic.
https://www.counteroffensive.news/
https://www.counteroffensive.news/
Information that turns into action.
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Get involved through the link.
The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak | Substack
A war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. Human stories that illustrate what’s happening during the war in Ukraine, and elsewhere on the frontlines for democracy. Issues 3x a week...
www.counteroffensive.news
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Information that turns into action.
Our readers provide Ukrainian reporters with armor, medicine, and emergency power.
Get involved through the link.
Our readers provide Ukrainian reporters with armor, medicine, and emergency power.
Get involved through the link.
CAT OF CONFLICT:
Mariana’s cat, Simba, casually sleeps on the floor, as if he works night shifts to feed his 3 children (he is just too relaxed).
Mariana’s cat, Simba, casually sleeps on the floor, as if he works night shifts to feed his 3 children (he is just too relaxed).
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
CAT OF CONFLICT:
Mariana’s cat, Simba, casually sleeps on the floor, as if he works night shifts to feed his 3 children (he is just too relaxed).
Mariana’s cat, Simba, casually sleeps on the floor, as if he works night shifts to feed his 3 children (he is just too relaxed).
POWER CUT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE: The power was cut off twice in the presidential residence of Mariinsky Palace during the interview of President Zelenskyy with The Guardian.
Під час інтерв'ю Зеленського в Маріїнському палаці двічі зникало світло
У Маріїнському палаці в Києві двічі зникала електрика, коли президент Володимир Зеленський давав там інтерв’ю журналісту видання Guardian.
hromadske.ua
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
POWER CUT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE: The power was cut off twice in the presidential residence of Mariinsky Palace during the interview of President Zelenskyy with The Guardian.
AUSTRALIA BUYS RUSSIAN OIL THROUGH LOOPHOLE IN SANCTIONS:
Australia has imported more than 3 mln tonnes of Russian oil since 2023 through a port part-owned by Singaporean Macquarie Bank, researchers found. This happened due to a loophole in Australian sanctions against Russia.
Australia has imported more than 3 mln tonnes of Russian oil since 2023 through a port part-owned by Singaporean Macquarie Bank, researchers found. This happened due to a loophole in Australian sanctions against Russia.
Австралія знайшла спосіб купувати російську нафту через «дірку» в санкціях
Австралія обходить заборону на прямі закупівлі російської нафти через Сінгапур
babel.ua
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
AUSTRALIA BUYS RUSSIAN OIL THROUGH LOOPHOLE IN SANCTIONS:
Australia has imported more than 3 mln tonnes of Russian oil since 2023 through a port part-owned by Singaporean Macquarie Bank, researchers found. This happened due to a loophole in Australian sanctions against Russia.
Australia has imported more than 3 mln tonnes of Russian oil since 2023 through a port part-owned by Singaporean Macquarie Bank, researchers found. This happened due to a loophole in Australian sanctions against Russia.
NEWS OF THE DAY:
UKRAINE’S SECURITY AT RISK DURING SHUTDOWN: Due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, $5 billion worth of U.S. weapon exports to Denmark, Croatia and Poland is delayed, the State Department said.
UKRAINE’S SECURITY AT RISK DURING SHUTDOWN: Due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, $5 billion worth of U.S. weapon exports to Denmark, Croatia and Poland is delayed, the State Department said.
Scoop: Weapons sales to NATO allies stalled by government shutdown
It's another example of the shutdown's sweeping global impacts.
www.axios.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
NEWS OF THE DAY:
UKRAINE’S SECURITY AT RISK DURING SHUTDOWN: Due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, $5 billion worth of U.S. weapon exports to Denmark, Croatia and Poland is delayed, the State Department said.
UKRAINE’S SECURITY AT RISK DURING SHUTDOWN: Due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, $5 billion worth of U.S. weapon exports to Denmark, Croatia and Poland is delayed, the State Department said.
To find out more about russian war crimes and ‘safari’ on civilians in the Kherson region, read our story here:
Russia’s disturbing human ‘safaris’
Violating the laws of war, Russians have created a sick game of hunting civilians with FPV drones near the frontline. We take you behind the scenes, to the people most affected.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
To find out more about russian war crimes and ‘safari’ on civilians in the Kherson region, read our story here:
They’re highly convenient for precise attacks: they’re small, fast, and easy to control.
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
They’re highly convenient for precise attacks: they’re small, fast, and easy to control.
First Person View (FPV) drones have changed not only the Russian-Ukrainian war but also warfare practices around the world. Now, a $400 drone can effectively strike military equipment that costs millions.
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
First Person View (FPV) drones have changed not only the Russian-Ukrainian war but also warfare practices around the world. Now, a $400 drone can effectively strike military equipment that costs millions.
Dozens of civilians still suffer each day from this bloody game invented by the Russians to entertain themselves on the battlefield.
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Dozens of civilians still suffer each day from this bloody game invented by the Russians to entertain themselves on the battlefield.
The term ‘human safari’ originates from the Kherson region. The city of Kherson is separated from the Russians only by the Dnipro River, making it prone to short range drone attacks.
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The term ‘human safari’ originates from the Kherson region. The city of Kherson is separated from the Russians only by the Dnipro River, making it prone to short range drone attacks.
The same went for the bodies that had charred inside them.
“You couldn't pull them out, they were fused,” she said.
“You couldn't pull them out, they were fused,” she said.
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The same went for the bodies that had charred inside them.
“You couldn't pull them out, they were fused,” she said.
“You couldn't pull them out, they were fused,” she said.
The sides of the road leading to her hospital had started to become littered with burned-out cars that no one had cleared away.
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The sides of the road leading to her hospital had started to become littered with burned-out cars that no one had cleared away.
Yana had a promising job at a hospital in the Kherson region, but at some point, her commute to work became marked by traffic jams.
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Yana had a promising job at a hospital in the Kherson region, but at some point, her commute to work became marked by traffic jams.
See past just the statistics – hear the voice of Ukraine.
Support reporting that puts human stories first.
Subscribe through the link in bio!
Support reporting that puts human stories first.
Subscribe through the link in bio!
The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak | Substack
A war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. Human stories that illustrate what’s happening during the war in Ukraine, and elsewhere on the frontlines for democracy. Issues 3x a week...
www.counteroffensive.news
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
See past just the statistics – hear the voice of Ukraine.
Support reporting that puts human stories first.
Subscribe through the link in bio!
Support reporting that puts human stories first.
Subscribe through the link in bio!
Here’s what Aidan is listening to today:
Blooms Corda / Старання не втратити розум
Blooms Corda / Старання не втратити розум
Blooms Corda / Старання не втратити розум
YouTube video by Blooms Corda
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Here’s what Aidan is listening to today:
Blooms Corda / Старання не втратити розум
Blooms Corda / Старання не втратити розум
Don’t miss our latest story about how Ukrainians are braving Russian airstrikes in subway stations at the link!
Overnight in the subway, thanks to Russian bombings
The metro can become a refuge when the city is facing explosions during the night. You can experience it, by staying in the metro with Zoriana.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Don’t miss our latest story about how Ukrainians are braving Russian airstrikes in subway stations at the link!
Russian immigration to Argentina has surged, as L.G.B.T.Q. Russians seek to escape escalating anti-gay repression.
120 k Russians have fled to Argentina since 2022, some of whom are fleeing new Russian laws which deem the L.G.B.T.Q. movement as “extremist”, NYT reports.
120 k Russians have fled to Argentina since 2022, some of whom are fleeing new Russian laws which deem the L.G.B.T.Q. movement as “extremist”, NYT reports.
Gay Russians Find a Haven on the Other Side of the World
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Russian immigration to Argentina has surged, as L.G.B.T.Q. Russians seek to escape escalating anti-gay repression.
120 k Russians have fled to Argentina since 2022, some of whom are fleeing new Russian laws which deem the L.G.B.T.Q. movement as “extremist”, NYT reports.
120 k Russians have fled to Argentina since 2022, some of whom are fleeing new Russian laws which deem the L.G.B.T.Q. movement as “extremist”, NYT reports.
All thermal power plants operated by Ukrainian energy giant Centrenergo are down following the ‘largest-ever’ Russian attack.
Thermal plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. Nuclear and renewable plants have also suffered from Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure.
Thermal plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. Nuclear and renewable plants have also suffered from Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's state-owned energy company says all of its power plants are down after Russia's 'largest-ever attack'
The recent Russian attack destroyed all restored capacity, leaving the plants generating no power, the state-owned energy company Centrenergo said on Nov. 8.
kyivindependent.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
All thermal power plants operated by Ukrainian energy giant Centrenergo are down following the ‘largest-ever’ Russian attack.
Thermal plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. Nuclear and renewable plants have also suffered from Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure.
Thermal plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. Nuclear and renewable plants have also suffered from Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure.
Captivated by this story?
Without your support, these stories can’t be told.
Engage with us through the link in bio!
Without your support, these stories can’t be told.
Engage with us through the link in bio!
The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak | Substack
A war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. Human stories that illustrate what’s happening during the war in Ukraine, and elsewhere on the frontlines for democracy. Issues 3x a week...
www.counteroffensive.news
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Captivated by this story?
Without your support, these stories can’t be told.
Engage with us through the link in bio!
Without your support, these stories can’t be told.
Engage with us through the link in bio!
Cat of Conflict:
Zoriana took a picture of this cat on the night she spent in the metro. Its owners let it out of its carrier, and it settled right between a boy and a girl, peeking out from behind their shoulders to get a better view.
Zoriana took a picture of this cat on the night she spent in the metro. Its owners let it out of its carrier, and it settled right between a boy and a girl, peeking out from behind their shoulders to get a better view.
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Cat of Conflict:
Zoriana took a picture of this cat on the night she spent in the metro. Its owners let it out of its carrier, and it settled right between a boy and a girl, peeking out from behind their shoulders to get a better view.
Zoriana took a picture of this cat on the night she spent in the metro. Its owners let it out of its carrier, and it settled right between a boy and a girl, peeking out from behind their shoulders to get a better view.
SANCTIONED RUSSIAN TANK PRODUCER STRUGGLES: Major Russian tank and railcar producer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) said it is restructuring operations to reduce costs, Reuters reports.
www.reuters.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
SANCTIONED RUSSIAN TANK PRODUCER STRUGGLES: Major Russian tank and railcar producer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) said it is restructuring operations to reduce costs, Reuters reports.
UKRAINE PREDICTS $30B+ IN LONG-RANGE WEAPONS: Ukraine is expected to produce more than $35 billion in long-range strike capacity next year, with the full amount potentially reaching $60 billion, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Ukraine estimates its long-range weapon production at over $30 billion in 2026
In a closed-door briefing with journalists, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Oleksandr Kamyshin, an advisor on Strategic Industries to the President's Office,...
kyivindependent.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
UKRAINE PREDICTS $30B+ IN LONG-RANGE WEAPONS: Ukraine is expected to produce more than $35 billion in long-range strike capacity next year, with the full amount potentially reaching $60 billion, the Kyiv Independent reports.
News of the day:
U.S. GIVES HUNGARY SANCTIONS WAIVER: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas after a White House meeting between Viktor Orbán and Trump, the BBC reports.
U.S. GIVES HUNGARY SANCTIONS WAIVER: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas after a White House meeting between Viktor Orbán and Trump, the BBC reports.
Trump gives Hungary one-year exemption from Russian energy sanctions
The opt-out comes despite the US increasing pressure on allies to sever economic ties with Russia.
www.bbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
News of the day:
U.S. GIVES HUNGARY SANCTIONS WAIVER: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas after a White House meeting between Viktor Orbán and Trump, the BBC reports.
U.S. GIVES HUNGARY SANCTIONS WAIVER: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas after a White House meeting between Viktor Orbán and Trump, the BBC reports.