Tim Mak

@timkmak.bsky.social

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Founder, The Counteroffensive: Compelling human stories to illustrate news of the war in Ukraine. Fmr US Army medic. @timkmak at Journa.host or @timkmak on Twitter

https://www.counteroffensive.news/

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NEWSFLASH: After 14 years in power, the U.K.’s Conservative government is on track for its worst-ever election result. It is now projected to be replaced by the Labour party, led by Keir Starmer — exit polls suggest that Starmer’s party will wield a massive majority:

Here's what we are reading today: If Trump has a plan to end the war, he should share it, but it must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, Zelenskyy told Bloomberg. He pointed out delays in Western arms deliveries and said he is considering meeting Trump to discuss his plan.

Zelenskiy Challenges Trump to Reveal Plans for Ending Warwww.bloomberg.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Donald Trump should come forward with his plan to quickly end the war with Russia, warning that any proposal must avoid violating the nation’s sovereignty.

Here’s what we are reading today: China is apparently developing attack drones, similar to the Iranian Shahed drones, to aid Russia fighting Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. European officials worry that China will be able to manufacture significantly more drones than Iran or Russia.

US Allies Allege China Is Developing Attack Drones for Russiawww.bloomberg.com Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine, European officials familiar with the matter said, a sign that Beijing may be edging closer...

Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. But is it time for people here to start panicking about the Trump-Biden matchup? The Counteroffensive conducted a poll to gauge Ukrainians' views on how the US presidential election could impact the war in Ukraine.

Here’s what we are reading today: The 1st round of France two-part snap election shows that the far-right National Rally party (NR) has won 33% of the vote, beating the 2 other parties. NR is against sending long-range missiles to Ukraine and putting French troops in Ukraine.

French elections: far right wins first-round victory. What happens now?www.theguardian.com Macron’s grouping and the left-green alliance will have to cooperate to keep National Rally out of power, but that won’t be easy

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. When the invasion started, chronically-ill children in Ukraine had access to increased international support. Now pediatric centers have become harder to find for children like Yevhen, who has a rare genetic disorder.

Today's issue: a REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Alessandra visits the mansion of former President Yanukovych, now a museum to the corrupt past. With corruption reforms part of Ukraine’s EU future, we visited this symbol of corruption that the country's soldiers are still fighting.

Here’s what we are thinking today: Biden poor debate performance has left Ukraine supporters fearing a Trump win. Trump promised a peace deal before Jan 20, 2025, likely only possible if Ukraine was cut out of negotiations, while Biden said Trump wanted to leave NATO.

Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. Ihor arrived at the power plant right after the attack, and immediately began putting out the fire; then repairing work. Today's issue follows energy workers who risk their lives to keep Ukraine out of the darkness.

Here’s what we are reading today: The U.S. may allow military contractors to work in Ukraine, but says that no decisions have been made, a source tells CNN. The troops would repair weapons systems in Ukraine, saving time and funds as this is currently done outside of Ukraine.

Biden administration moving towards allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine | CNN Politicsedition.cnn.com The Biden administration is moving towards lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, to help the country’s mili...

Here's what we are reading today: Trump's advisors have proposed a plan to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports. Ukraine would get more US weapons only if it enters peace talks with Russia. The Kremlin will have been warned that refusing to negotiate will increase US support for Ukraine.

Exclusive: Trump reviews plan to halt US military aid to Ukraine unless it negotiates peace with Moscowwww.reuters.com Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine -- if he wins the presidential election -- that involves telling Ukraine it will only get more U.S. weapons if it enters into peace talks.

Check out today’s issue: a REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Myroslava takes us to Kupala Night, an ancient Ukrainian tradition that some argue pre-dates Christianity. The custom involves fertility wreaths, cleansing fires and late-night flower hunting — all tied to the summer solstice!

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. The gray zone is a two km passageway in NE Ukraine, the only way refugees can cross from Russia into Ukraine. At 17, Sofia had to leave her mother behind for a perilous journey from occupied territory into free Ukraine.

Here's what we are reading: Despite the ability to strike further inside Russia, Ukraine is still unable to hit important Russian airfields due to restrictions. The U.S has given the green light to strike up to 62 miles from the border, but many airbases lay further inland.

U.S. restrictions put key Russian air bases out of firing range, officials saywww.washingtonpost.com Letting Ukraine hit targets in Russia with U.S. weapons has reduced missile attacks on Kharkiv but not stopped planes that drop deadly glide bombs.

Here’s what we are reading today: The US gave Kyiv the green light to strike anywhere across the border where Russian forces strike Ukraine from, Politico reports. Previously, the United States limited the use of American-supplied weapons within the Kharkiv region.

US says Ukraine can hit inside Russia ‘anywhere’ its forces attack across the borderwww.politico.com The policy is not limited to the Kharkiv region, U.S. officials said.

Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. Maryan Zablotskiy, a Zelenskyy ally, believes that Ukraine should adopt a law similar to America’s Second Amendment… Arguing that with more firearms, Ukraine could have more easily staved off Russian atrocities…

Here's what we are reading today: Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a defense agreement during Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years. The agreement signifies a broader trend of authoritarian countries consolidating support amongst each other. edition.cnn.com/2024/06/19/a...

Putin says Russia and North Korea will help each other if attacked, taking ties to a ‘new level’ | CNNedition.cnn.com Vladimir Putin said Russia and North Korea have ramped up ties to a “new level,” pledging to help each other if either nation is attacked in a “breakthrough” new partnership announced during the Russi...

Here's what we are reading today: Slovenian authorities suspect Russia of sending spies disguised as adult "students." This influx began two years ago, coinciding with the expulsion of suspected spies from Europe. Slovenia deported eight Russian students for spreading pro-Russian propaganda.

www.wsj.com

Here's what we are reading today: A Russian court announced that the trial of imprisoned American journalist, Evan Gershkovich, will start next week behind closed doors. He is being accused of covertly collecting information about a weapons factory for the CIA. www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/w...

Russia Sets Date for Start of Evan Gershkovich’s Trialwww.nytimes.com The announcement of a hearing next week is the most significant movement in the Wall Street Journal reporter’s case since his arrest in March 2023 on espionage charges.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. Gambling has been a wartime challenge going back to the American Revolution, when George Washington warned against it. In Ukraine, gambling addiction is on the rise as soldiers like Taras relapse due to stresses of war.

Here's what we are reading: Zelenskyy is hosting a peace summit this weekend in Switzerland and delegates from Russia, China and Brazil are notably absent from the talks. Ukraine hopes to solidify its international backing before Russia brings another offer to the table.

Ukraine Hosts Peace Talks in Switzerland, Though Russia Isn’t Invitedwww.nytimes.com Kyiv hopes to garner support about three points in its proposal before presenting them to Moscow. It’s a hard sell, with China and Brazil not sending high-level delegations.

Here's what we are reading today: Putin laid out specific conditions for immediate ceasefire: Ukraine cedes territory. This includes Ukrainian areas Russia has never controlled or no long occupies: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine highly unlikely to agree.

Vladimir Putin sets out Ukraine ceasefire conditionswww.ft.com Kyiv rejects Russian president’s demands to control four Ukrainian regions

Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. A Russian attack on one of Europe's largest printing houses destroyed 50k books and 40% of Ukr printing capacity. For Olena Rybka, it represented the heart of Ukrainian culture. Book lovers will find this heartbreaking.

Here's what we are reading today: Ukrainian children abducted and taken to Russian territory are put up on adoption sites with fakes names and documents, with no reference to how they ended up in Russia, an investigation conducted by the FT finds.

Ukrainian children found on Russian adoption siteswww.ft.com FT identified and located four missing Ukrainian children in Russia, including one given false identity

Here's what we're reading today: US lifted ban on weapons to Azov Battalion, a unit famous for resisting Russian siege on Mariupol. Ban was based on the Leahy Act, which restricts aid based on human rights violations. A recent State Dept inspection found "no evidence" of these violations.

U.S. lifts weapons ban on Ukrainian military unitwww.washingtonpost.com Ukraine’s Azov Brigade, a one-time militia whose founders Washington deemed problematic, are now allowed to use U.S. weapons, the State Department said.

NEWSFLASH: Surge of far-right, pro-Russian parties in EU parliament Parties which often express pro-Russian narratives and oppose Ukraine aid gained last night as voters returned their verdicts, winning approximately 150 of 720 seats in the parliament.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. This week is Ukraine’s National Journalist’s Day and to honor it, we remember the 81 journalists killed since Russia invaded … through a profile of photographer Maks Levin, who was killed near Kyiv in March, 2022.

Here's what we are reading today: Russia’s full-scale invasion has been surprisingly great for business for a niche industry - Ukrainian energy drink companies. Piles of empty energy drink cans litter trenches in the east as soldiers drink them morning, noon and night.

Energy Drinks Boost Ukraine’s Soldiers, and Its Economywww.nytimes.com Cans packed with caffeine and branded with patriotic machismo have become an essential antidote to the stresses of war.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands. In 2022, retired Navy admiral Arne saw a sanctioned Russian ship in the harbor. It was unloading weapons. He didn't know it then, but it became part of a major scandal: one that shows how close S. Africa is to Russia.

Here's what we're reading today: Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery in Novoshakhtynsk, Russia. The strike damaged a critical unit, which processes about 2.5 million tons of oil per year.

Drones hit a refinery in the Rostov regionmil.in.ua A group of attack drones hit a Russian oil refinery in Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov region