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timkmak

@timkmak@journa.host

Founder, The Counteroffensive. Based in Kyiv, trying to tell the news of the war through compelling, human interest stories. Read us at https://www.counteroffensive.news/

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. For a complete list of posts, browse on the original instance.

timkmak , to random
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Here’s what we are reading today:

The may allow military contractors to work in but says that no decisions have been made, a source tells

The troops would repair systems in Ukraine, saving time and funds as this is currently done outside of Ukraine.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/25/politics/biden-administration-american-military-contractors-ukraine/index.html

timkmak OP ,
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troops will be used as ‘cannon fodder’ if they join armed forces to fight against Ukraine, according to the Pentagon.

Korea’s has already announced that its engineering unit will help the Russian army in the region next month.

https://kyivindependent.com/north-korean-troops-fighting-in-ukraine-would-be-cannon-fodder-pentagon-says/

timkmak , to random
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Check out today’s issue: a REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK:

Myroslava takes us to Night, an ancient Ukrainian tradition that some argue pre-dates

The custom involves fertility wreaths, cleansing fires and late-night flower hunting — all tied to the

timkmak OP ,
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What exactly is Kupala Night?

Kupala Night is one of the oldest folk holidays in Ukrainian culture and is a feature of several Slavic countries. It pre-dates Christianity (although some historians contest exactly when it emerged), when people believed in worshiping the elements or the gods.

timkmak OP ,
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It was aimed at fertility, the worship of the sun, and other elements associated with crops. It originated on the day of the when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest.

timkmak OP ,
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Since Kupala Night is characterized by various rituals and ceremonies related to water, the place of celebration is usually near a body of water. Whole villages would gather on the banks of a river or lake and celebrate until the early morning.

timkmak OP ,
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The wreath is important to Night as they were to determine what girl's fate and when she would marry.

Weaving was considered very important: one should pick flowers in a good mood and preferably alone, and while weaving one should think only of pleasant moments.

timkmak OP ,
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If you want to read to read about Myroslava’s celebration of the festival, click on the link and if you find this human-orientated journalism beneficial, please consider subscribing:

https://counteroffensive.substack.com

timkmak OP ,
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NEWS OF THE DAY:

A top official, said that could "opt for any kind of retaliatory strike" if the U.S. continued to support This could start a “new world war,” said vice chairman of North Korea’s Central Military Commission, according to

https://www.reuters.com/world/north-korean-official-criticises-us-expanding-support-ukraine-kcna-reports-2024-06-23/

timkmak OP ,
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At least 4 people are dead in occupied and more than 150 injured, after a strike was intercepted over the city of Fragments from the American-supplied ATACMS missiles led to casualties on the ground at a beach, claims.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6pppr719rlo

timkmak OP ,
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The Counteroffensive has not been able to independently confirm this and Russian government sources have been known to mislead.

Russia said that there would be "consequences" for the strike, the BBC reports. Russia illegally occupied Crimea in 2014.

timkmak OP ,
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….RUSSIA BLAMES U.S. FOR BEACH STRIKE: Russia summoned the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, NBC News reports, a formal diplomatic move that indicates they believe the blame should be squarely placed on America, which supposedly provided the missiles used in the intercepted attacks.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-blames-us-ukrainian-strikes-crimea-rcna158471

timkmak , to random
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Good morning to readers; remains in Ukrainian hands.

The gray zone is a two km passageway in NE Ukraine, the only way refugees can cross from into .

At 17, Sofia had to leave her mother behind for a perilous journey from occupied territory into free Ukraine.

They call it the gray zone.

Two kilometers of road that is contested by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, and controlled by neither.

timkmak OP ,
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Shelling often starts as people walk through this area, the explosions adding to an already terrifying experience.

But since April 2022, 30,000 civilians have walked this precarious path from Russia into Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy district, around 100 miles north of Kharkiv.

One of them is Sofia*, who recently returned to Ukraine through the checkpoint on foot – the only way that’s permitted.

timkmak OP ,
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“I left the occupation, but it never left my head,” Sofia said.

On February 24, 2022, Sofia left , in the south of . Large columns of Russians were already on the city's outskirts.

Sofia headed for her mother's home village on the left bank of the region, planning to meet her mom and decide where to go together.

Before they could plan what to do next, Kherson Oblast was taken.

But at least Sofia was not alone.

timkmak OP ,
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Her mom was there, and the two of them ultimately decided not to risk leaving the now occupied territories.

In the summer of 2023, pressure on Ukrainians in occupied territories grew.

Enemy soldiers began forcing Sofia’s family to take a Russian passport, and began searching for her home address.

Sofia’s mother, who did not want to leave their home, decided that if she could not escape the occupation, she needed to at least give that chance to her daughter.

timkmak OP ,
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She had to leave. The only way was to find the Kolotylivka-Pokrovk passageway – and cross the ‘gray zone.’

But the crossing was hundreds of miles away, through treacherous territory occupied by .

There are two ways to get to the crossing point: on one's own by public transportation, or with the help of private drivers who bring Ukrainians out of the occupied territories.

timkmak OP ,
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The first option is much cheaper, but more difficult and dangerous.

And the second is too expensive for many Ukrainians.

Sofia was wary of the risks and contacted a private transport company for help.

But she lived in a small village, the driver did not want to go there.

The way to the checkpoint in the Sumy region was dangerous: it goes through the so-called ‘Donetsk People's Republic’ (DPR) and Russia.

timkmak OP ,
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At the border with the so-called DPR, Sofia and her elderly fellow travelers were forced to name the city in Russia where they were going, and the contacts of the person with whom they were going to live.

But none of the passengers planned to stay in . They wanted to return to .

“I wrote something vague and helped all the old ladies. Some of them could only write in Ukrainian,” Sofia remembered.

timkmak OP ,
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At these filtration camps, Russians check documents, belongings and phones.

They look for any indication of pro-Ukrainian politics, and then interrogate people.

Once the filtration measures and the checkpoints on the Russian side of the border near Kolotylivka have been passed, Ukrainians have to walk through the 'gray zone'.

timkmak OP ,
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At one point, everybody had to go on foot alone: women, children, people with disabilities, or the elderly.

But lately, Russia has allowed volunteers to assist them.

“It was difficult because our group of evacuees consisted of 150 people. Also, we had to come and take a bed, otherwise we were left with very bad cots… I had to sleep on a cot with an old lady,” Sofia recalls the final steps of her evacuation.

timkmak OP ,
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Sofia was treated with understanding, but she was left to fend for herself.

Volunteers explained everything and fed her whenever necessary until she left for Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine where her boyfriend’s family lives.

But thoughts of the occupation never leave Sofia, even though she is now safe.

Sofia's memories of the home taken away are still with her. She also remembers her mother, who stayed behind:

*Sofia’s name has been changed due to security concerns.

timkmak OP ,
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NEWS OF THE DAY:

HIMARS strikes into Russian territory allowed to disrupt tens of thousands of Russian troops that were preparing for a new assault into Ukrainian territory, writes The Kyiv Post.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/34732

timkmak OP ,
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The Ukrainian military claims that they've destroyed a Russian base used to deploy Iranian-made drones; and, in the process, killed a number of training instructors and cadets in the process of learning how to operate Shahed drones.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c511ny02qjwo

timkmak , to random
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Here's what we are reading:

Despite the ability to strike further inside , 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.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/21/ukraine-firing-range-us-weapons-russia/

timkmak OP ,
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Nigel Farage has come under criticism for saying that NATO and the EU “provoked” Putin into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK Home Secretary said echoing Putin’s “vile justification” should make anyone unfit for office.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/jun/22/nigel-farage-wallace-ukraine-war-comments-putin-uk-general-election-updates

timkmak , to random
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Ukrainian app gives me an alert 30 min before power goes out, which allows me to quick cook dinner before it’s too late

Having a hard time imagining other cities in the world having this level of digital sophistication during a wartime energy crisis

timkmak OP ,
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What really gets you thinking is the sort of productive, innovative stuff this country could be churning out if there was no invasion at all

timkmak , to random
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Here’s what we are reading today:

The US gave the green light to strike anywhere across the border where Russian forces strike from, Politico reports.

Previously, the United States limited the use of American-supplied weapons within the Kharkiv region.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/20/us-says-ukraine-can-hit-inside-russia-anywhere-00164261

timkmak OP ,
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will redirect newly made Patriot air defense systems and missiles that were ordered by other countries to , FT reported.

This will help Ukraine protect its cities and critical infrastructure.

https://www.ft.com/content/89fe9d6b-3a0f-42a5-af50-cff7f457a126

timkmak OP ,
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Here's what Mariana is listening to today:

Листівки - Electrobirds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb44nQLICtU

timkmak OP ,
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Do you enjoy our work? Let us know!

Supporting The Counteroffensive is free!

Follow along with the team through the link!

https://www.counteroffensive.news/

timkmak , to random
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We at The Counteroffensive have been super loyal to Mastodon over the past year, becoming one of the most frequent posters on #Ukraine news and original reporting.

Now we need your help -- This is the graph that keeps me up at night.

It represents The Counteroffensive’s projected revenue for the year. I’ve taken out the numbers, but the shape tells you the story -- we've taken a hit.

timkmak OP ,
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The power is out. Again. I tried to stop into a corner store earlier this week, and the mood was cataclysmic: all the refrigerated food is going to spoil.

The Ukrainian power system is in crisis mode: it’s summer, and already an epic catastrophe: businesses are going to fail, people are going to lose their jobs. The winter, when it dips well below freezing, promises to be significantly worse.

We are not going to stop.

We are not leaving.

We’re going to keep doing our #reporting.

timkmak OP ,
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But here’s what we need to continue: battery power stations that can keep the lights on and the wifi working.

As you can imagine, during a period of war, they are quite expensive: $2,500 — if you can find them in the inventory.

timkmak OP ,
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Here are four ways you can help us now, if you value our presence on Mastodon and our reporting:

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  3. Upgrade to a paid membership at The Counteroffensive at www.counteroffensive.news/subscribeubscribe
  4. Contribute to our tip jar so we can buy this battery and keep reporting: https://donate.stripe.com/fZe29k5II6HNbE4dQQ
timkmak , to random
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New Kyiv routine: say a little prayer every time you get into an elevator so that the power doesn’t go out when you’re inside one

… this time the power shut off within five minutes of me getting out!

timkmak , to random
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NEWSFLASH: Surge of , parties in parliament

Parties which often express pro-Russian narratives and oppose aid gained last night as voters returned their verdicts, winning approximately 150 of 720 seats in the parliament.

timkmak , to random
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Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

This week is ’s National Journalist’s Day and to honor it, we remember the 81 journalists killed since invaded

… through a profile of photographer Maks Levin, who was killed near Kyiv in March, 2022.

"Every Ukrainian photographer dreams of taking a photo that will stop the war," was one of Maks Levin's most famous sentences.

Unfortunately, he never did, because Russia killed him.

timkmak , to random
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When SARS broke out in in ‘03, the WHO denied Taiwan’s request for the virus’ DNA to combat it.

The WHO told Taiwan’s health minister at the time to ask China.

refused the request and 137 people died in the following four months.

Taiwan has been denied WHO membership for five decades due to political reasons, says Dr. Chien-Jen, Taiwan’s Minister of Health at the time of the SARS outbreak.

This has cost Taiwan innocent lives.

timkmak , to random
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Here's what we are reading today:

allies push the to allow Ukr to use U.S. made weapons to strike Rus.

Yesterday, and said they supported using weapons given by allies to strike Russian bases launching missiles, but not allow other strikes on

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/29/ukraine-war-briefing-macron-scholz-agree-kyiv-should-use-allies-weapons-against-launchers-in-russia

timkmak OP ,
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The residence and office of a member of the parliament who is suspected of facilitating interference has been raided by police. The PM has said that Belgian intelligence has exposed a network trying to take down support for

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240529-🔴-police-search-the-european-parliament-over-possible-russian-interference

timkmak OP ,
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Following the stabbing of a border guard through the Poland-Belarus border fence by a migrant trying to cross illegally, will now create a buffer zone on this border.

Russia’s ally, has been accused of bringing migrants to the as part of their "hybrid war".

https://kyivindependent.com/pm-tusk-says-poland-will-create-buffer-zone-at-belarusian-border-following-attack-on-border-guard/

timkmak OP ,
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Here’s what Alessandra is listening to today:

Acalanto - Ana Mazzotti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEMvQl2SM9A

timkmak OP ,
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Supporting our team’s reporting is as easy as one click (did we mention it’s also free?)

Follow along with The Counteroffensive through the link!

https://counteroffensive.substack.com

timkmak , to random
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Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

Today’s issue – in honor of AAPI heritage month – revolves around what it’s like to be an Asian journalist in Ukraine.

... in a weird way, I found it liberating.

timkmak OP ,
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My fists clenched. I prepared for a confrontation – after all, in the United States, this is the sort of street harassment that many Asian Americans are used to.

To read the rest of the story, and hear from other Asian journalists in Ukraine such as Asami Terajima and Laurel Chor, read the link in our bio.

timkmak OP ,
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NEWS OF THE DAY

OFFENSIVE STALLING: The head of 's government told the BBC that the Russian plan was to take the border town of within two days, and reach Kharkiv city within five days.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp0018dzg32o

timkmak OP ,
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…BUT CONFIDENT IN HIS GRIP ON POWER: Putin is overseeing the largest overhaul of his defense ministry since the outbreak of full-scale war, seemingly secure in his political position as he starts a fifth term, the New York Times reports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/26/world/europe/russia-corruption-putin.html

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