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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

Think you’ve seen it all? Ukraine has more to tell.

Follow human-centered reporting that goes beyond the headlines.

Subscribe 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

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

Here’s what Aidan is listening to today:

The Script – Superheroes

The Script - Superheroes (Official Video)

YouTube video by TheScriptVEVO

www.youtube.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

Missed our article on how Ukraine’s decision to sacrifice a dam saved Kyiv – and why Europe may follow its lead? Read it via the link.

Good for Beavers, Bad for Russia

In 2022, Ukraine blew up the Kozarovychi Dam to stop the Russians. Now, Europe wants to copy this strategy — turning wetlands into defenses.

www.counteroffensive.news

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

The Russian independent media outlet Mediazona has confirmed the identities of 135,100 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv rarely officially record combat losses but Ukraine estimates that 250,000 Russians have died during the war.

Russian losses in the war with Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated

135,100 deaths confirmed by October 10

en.zona.media

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán launched a nationwide petition against EU support for Ukraine - accusing the EU of dragging Europe toward conflict.

The move underscores Budapest’s deepening rift with Brussels, as Orbán blocks Ukraine’s EU accession talks.

Hungarian PM launches petition against "Brussels' war plan" in support of Ukraine

www.pravda.com.ua

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 12h

Here’s what you should know today:

New reports reveal the U.S. has been providing Ukraine intelligence to strike Russian energy facilities far from the frontline.

Officials say this is a joint U.S.-Ukraine effort to weaken Moscow’s economy and force Putin to the negotiating table.

Ukraine hit Russian energy sites with US help

Trump administration has supported Kyiv’s operations since summer in co-ordinated push to weaken Moscow

www.ft.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

Captivated by this story?

Without your support, these stories can’t be told.

Engage with us 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

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

DOG OF WAR

Zoriana saw this dog on the metro when she was returning home. The loud noises and the crowd scared him a little, so he tried to hide in the backpack he was being carried in.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

UKRAINIAN AIR DEFENSE 74% EFFECTIVE: Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi says Ukraine’s air defense “is about 74% effective.”

Ukrainian air defence is 74% effective – Ukraine's commander-in-chief

www.pravda.com.ua

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

MELANIA TRUMP, PUTIN OPEN DIALOGUE ON KIDNAPPED CHILDREN: First Lady Melania Trump says she has an “open channel of communication” with Vladimir Putin about Russia’s kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

Melania Trump says she has 'open communication channel' with Putin about Ukrainian children

The US First Lady has been directly engaged in diplomacy in Russia, pleading for the protection of children.

www.bbc.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

NEWS OF THE DAY

RUSSIA INCREASES ATTACKS ON UKRAINE’S ENERGY GRID: Russia is targeting power plants and electrical infrastructure throughout Ukraine to cause blackouts as winter approaches.

As Winter Nears, Russian Strikes on Ukraine’s Energy Grid Cause Blackouts

www.nytimes.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

Read more about how Ukraine’s decision to sacrifice a dam saved Kyiv - and why Europe may follow its lead - at this link:

Good for Beavers, Bad for Russia

In 2022, Ukraine blew up the Kozarovychi Dam to stop the Russians. Now, Europe wants to copy this strategy — turning wetlands into defenses.

open.substack.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

What was a desperate act of defense is now a model.
Now European countries - Poland, Finland, and the Baltics - are studying Ukraine’s example.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

“It was an incredible stroke of luck,” said Oleksandr Karpiuk, the marine reservist who carried out the detonation. “I wasn’t supposed to survive there.”

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

Water poured across the Irpin River basin - stalling the Russian advance to Kyiv.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

The first blast failed. The water barely moved.
Russian artillery began to fire.
Then came the second attempt.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

Blowing up the dam was an unlikely chess move.
But in the frantic days of February 2022, it was the last option to stop the Russians.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 1d

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

In 2022, Oleksandr, a Ukrainian marine, helped blow up the Kozarovychi Dam to stop the Russians.

Now, as Russia threatens NATO, Europe considers all options, including turning their own borders into wetlands.

Good for Beavers, Bad for Russia

In 2022, Ukraine blew up the Kozarovychi Dam to stop the Russians. Now, Europe wants to copy this strategy — turning wetlands into defenses.

open.substack.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

Captivated by this story?

Without your support, these stories can’t be told.

Engage with us 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

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

DOG OF WAR

Zorіana's friend saw this dog in her hometown. She tried to take a photo of him for three days, but he kept hiding from her. One day, she finally managed to take a picture, and in response, the dog started barking, probably wanting to see the photo immediately.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

IEDs IN KYIV: A local teenager was recruited by Russian agents to take a bomb and remotely detonate it, the latest incident in the shadow war of sabotage between Russia and Ukraine.

Assassinations, railway sabotage, car bombs: Inside the shadow war in Ukraine | CBC News

As the front lines of the war in Ukraine continue to be described as a “meat grinder,” the shadow wars between the Kremlin and Kyiv have intensified, with covert assassinations, railway sabotage and c...

www.cbc.ca

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

ZELENSKYY: I’LL LOBBY FOR TRUMP NOBEL, IF…: Should Trump approve the provision of Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine and broker a peace, the Ukrainian president said he'll nominate the U.S. leader for the Nobel peace prize.

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

RUSSIA WARNS ABOUT TOMAHAWKS: The United States is currently considering giving Ukraine access to Tomahawks missiles, leading the Russian government to warn of the “severity of consequences” if this were to happen.

Russian Foreign Ministry threatens US with “severe consequences” if it supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said that the United States must “understand the depth and severity of the consequences” should it decide to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk...

www.eurointegration.com.ua

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

NEWS OF THE DAY:

GAS OUT, COLD WINTER AHEAD: Russian attacks have destroyed more than half of Ukraine's gas production, meaning that Ukraine will need to spend billions of dollars on fuel imports to get through the looming cold season.

Russian Strikes Knock Out More than Half of Ukraine Gas Production Ahead of Winter

Russian strikes in recent days have wiped out more than half of Ukraine’s domestic natural gas production, likely forcing the war-battered country to spend 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) on fuel imp...

www.bloomberg.com

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Tim Mak @timkmak.bsky.social · 3d

To read about Ukrainian anarchists who joined the army – people who once rejected all forms of hierarchy, yet chose to fight not for the state, but for freedom, for their loved ones, and for those whose homes were destroyed – click the link!

The Anarchists (yes, anarchists) in Ukraine’s military

Even Ukrainian anarchists felt compelled to join the army to fight against Russia, despite opposing the concept of the state. One of them, Faust, joined to fight for the freedom of his loved ones.

www.counteroffensive.news

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