Tim Mak
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timkmak.bsky.social
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/
Pinned
A private call between Trump-appointed envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov was just leaked — and it shows the American envoy effectively acting as a strategist for Moscow.
NEWSFLASH: Witkoff was secretly giving Russians advice
A secret transcript reveals that the Trump envoy was helping a Putin advisor formulate a plan.
www.counteroffensive.news
A private call between Trump-appointed envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov was just leaked — and it shows the American envoy effectively acting as a strategist for Moscow.
NEWSFLASH: Witkoff was secretly giving Russians advice
A secret transcript reveals that the Trump envoy was helping a Putin advisor formulate a plan.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Here's what The Counteroffensive is reading today:
6 drones breached Moldovan and Romanian airspace during Russia's attack on Ukraine. Zelenskyy said that at least 4 Russian drones flew into both countries.
This follows earlier breaches of European airspace by Russia.
У простір Молдови залетіли шість безпілотників. Один із них упав на будинок — Міноборони
Під час масованої російської атаки по Україні в ніч проти 25 листопада шість безпілотників залетіли в повітряний простір Молдови.
hromadske.ua
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Chinese exporters have raised prices for Russian military buyers, exploiting Moscow’s isolation created by sanctions.

Prices of export-controlled products from China to Russia rose 87% in 3 years. For others, the rise was 9%.
Chinese exporters charge Russia more for war supplies as sanctions bite
Price increases show that western restrictions are limiting Moscow’s capabilities, Bank of Finland research finds
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Rubio told U.S. officials that the 28-point plan was from Russia, not the U.S., Politico reports.

This contradicts Rubio’s posts on X saying the plan had U.S. input.

The plan is widely criticised as too favourable to Russia.
Lawmakers say Rubio distanced US from peace plan
Members of Congress attending an international security forum said Secretary of State Marco Rubio called them to say the Americans did not instigate the proposal.
www.politico.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Putin says the U.S. plan could serve as the “basis” for peace, shifting from a statement yesterday that it hadn’t been substantively discussed.

The plan would cap Ukraine’s forces and hand Moscow significant territorial gains.
Putin backs US peace plan as ‘basis’ for settlement in Ukraine
Washington’s proposal would confirm Ukraine’s sovereignty but would limit its armed forces, hand a significant amount of territory to Russia and bar Kyiv from joining NATO.
www.politico.eu
November 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Good day to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
Still.
But we are back in a reality where Ukraine is being pushed toward capitulation.
Myroslava wants her son to live in a free world.
She voiced The Counteroffensive's stance: Trump's peace plan is a roadmap to more war.
Trump’s 'Peace' Plan Means More War
Myroslava voices Ukraine’s fear that the new US peace plan resembles capitulation. Despite fatigue and losses, the Counteroffensive team believes a just peace is possible only on Ukrainian terms.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Here's what The Counteroffensive is reading today:
The U.S.-Russia plan demands that Ukraine concede territory, reduce its army and abandon efforts to join NATO. The U.S. offered security guarantees which are not clearly outlined.
The U.S. wants Ukraine to sign it by 27 Nov.
Trump's full 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
The full plan was obtained by Axios and verified by Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
www.axios.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Due to Maduro's criminal regime, millions of Venezuelans have already been forced to flee terror.
But if Trump attacks Venezuela, it could trigger an even deeper migration crisis across neighboring countries.
We traveled to a Colombian border town, living in the shadow of war.
At Colombia-Venezuela border, vulnerable brace for Trump war
The autocracy in Venezuela has led to millions fleeing Venezuela, crowding border towns in Colombia. With Trump weighing Venezuela strikes, it could soon get a lot worse.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

The U.S. is preparing a peace plan for Ukraine together with Russia, Axios reports, citing U.S. and Russian officials.

The proposal outlines peace terms and security guarantees, but its stance on territorial issues remains unclear.
Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war
"We feel the Russian position is really being heard," Russia's envoy told Axios.
www.axios.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

In 2022, Artur and his father, Oleg, both took up arms.

But, while Artur went to fight for Ukraine, Oleg took the occupier's side.

Artur's sister discusses the messages her family sent when it was torn apart by Russia.
Why the war won’t end anytime soon
The Russian invasion has turned once-close family members against each other. We take an inside look into one family’s texts, as the war tore them apart.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

New parts produced by Japan, China, and Taiwan were found in Russian weapons.

Despite Taiwan's support for Ukraine, Taiwan was also the world's largest importer of Russian naptha, a petroleum product, in the first half of 2025.
Розвідка оприлюднила нові дані про іноземне обладнання в російській зброї
Головне управління розвідки Міністерства оборони України опублікувало нові дані про іноземне обладнання, яке Росія застосовує, зокрема у виробництві універсальних модулів планування та корекції для ав...
www.ukrinform.ua
November 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
There’s nothing like rolling power outages to show you how important a simple thing like electricity is to your entire life.
November 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Russia has escalated attacks on Naftogaz, Ukraine’s gas giant, knocking out 60% of production capacity last month.

Naftogaz only has 3/4 of the funding needed to keep heat on this winter and may need more if strikes continue.
Russia Tried to Cut Ukraine’s Lights. Now It’s Aiming for the Heat.
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Ukraine struck Russia’s Novorossiysk port, the country’s second-largest oil export center and an important logistics hub on the Black Sea.

Ukraine’s attacks have already significantly disrupted Russia’s oil and gas exports.
Ukraine hits major Russian oil export hub, Ukraine preparing 'historic' air defense and fighter jet deal - Friday brief
Read more
newsukraine.rbc.ua
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
“I saw the pure terror in my parent’s eyes. Dad’s shaky voice while he was calling firefighters and standing there and seeing terrifying results of the strike just 50 meters from us,” Liza said, about the moment of strike.
November 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Ukraine-Russia talks have been suspended, Ukrainian First Deputy FM told the Times, after Russia has consistently obstructed progress during peace talks.

This follows Russia's call for peace talks with Ukraine yesterday.
Кислиця заявив, що переговори з рф припинені, і пригадав, як Києву пропонували створити чат у WhatsApp
Перший заступник міністра закордонних справ Сергій Кислиця заявив, що мирні переговори із росією наразі припинені.
hromadske.ua
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

UK national security adviser tried to create a back channel to Putin fearing Trump may sideline the EU on Ukraine, FT writes.

The talks were intended to communicate the UK's position to Russia but failed to make any progress.
UK’s Jonathan Powell contacted Moscow in bid to build back channel to Vladimir Putin
Kremlin confirms contact but says ‘mutual exchange of views proved impossible’
www.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Ukraine's anti-corruption organs have detained 5 of 7 suspects of a major corruption scandal in the energy sector.

One of the accused, and Zelenskyy long-time associate, Timur Mindich, fled before he could be detained.
Масштабна корупція в енергетиці: НАБУ повідомило про підозру Карлсону та ще 6 посадовцям
Національне антикорупційне бюро повідомило про підозри сімом членам злочинної організації, які, за даними слідства, причетні до масштабної корупційної схеми в енергетиці.
hromadske.ua
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Good morning readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

In the towns near Ukraine's frontline, Russian FPV drones hunt civilians, a new tactic called a "human safari".

Yana, who lives in Kherson, regularly sees these drones and the damage they cause.
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 2:46 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Hate crimes against Ukrainians are on the rise in Poland, as support for Ukraine dwindles.

Warsaw-based pollster CBOS found that 48% of Poles favor accepting more Ukrainian refugees, down from 94% in 2022.
Poland’s Support for Ukrainians Is Cracking at a Dangerous Time
An increase in hate crime comes as aid for Kyiv takes center stage in a political battle in Warsaw.
www.bloomberg.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Kyiv alone has endured 1,903 air raid alerts and 95 days of Russian airstrikes.

Zoriana tells us what it's like to spend a night sheltering in her local subway station.
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

A Russian soldier was sentenced to life in prison for killing a Ukrainian prisoner of war.

At least 322 such cases have occurred since 2022, but this is the first time the perpetrator is within the court’s jurisdiction.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Good morning readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

Ukraine has once again been plunged into darkness by Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure.

For Ukrainian mothers, like Myroslava, this means dealing with the stress and mess of caring for an infant – with no power.
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

Ukraine will open arms export and co-production offices in Berlin and Copenhagen, naval drones and artillery will be the main weapons exports.

This will help Ukraine raise funds to buy fighter jets and air defence systems.
Ukraine to set up arms export offices in Berlin, Copenhagen, Zelenskiy says
Ukraine will set up offices for arms exports and joint weapons production in Berlin and Copenhagen this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Here's what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

The UK supplied Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, allowing Ukraine to continue hitting Russian oil facilities.

U.S. sanctions and Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil facilities have weakened the Russian economy.
UK Sends Ukraine More Storm Shadow Missiles to Strike in Russia
The UK government recently resupplied Ukraine with more Storm Shadow cruise missiles to enable Kyiv to continue its campaign of long-range strikes inside Russia, people familiar with the matter said.
www.bloomberg.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM