The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak | Substack

A guide through Ukrainian moonshine brewing culture

How Soviet bans led to innovations at home, from the perspective of Nastia's grandmother.

Oct 14 •

Anastasiia Kryvoruchenko

and

Oleh Tymoshenko

The rise of Scientology in Ukraine

What the relative popularity of Scientology in Ukraine, compared to neighboring countries, tells us about religious freedom in the country – and the…

Oct 12 •

and

Mariana Lastovyria

Inside Kyiv’s former Soviet secret police prison

As I visited this NKVD dungeon I couldn’t help but think of my great-great-grandfather, who had suffered in a similar prison – and how little has…

Oct 10 •

Mariana Lastovyria

and

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

I knew the assassinated Russian nuke collaborator

Oleksandr Seliverstov once worked side-by-side with a collaborator at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. This week, the collaborator…

Oct 7 •

Mariana Lastovyria

,

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

, and

Behind the scenes with the Ukrainian ‘Vampire’ Drone

Also known as the 'Baba Yaga' drone, named after a Ukrainian folk tale witch, we take a look at what makes Ukrainian innovation so unique.

Oct 5 •

,

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

, and

Most Popular

The First Substack Dedicated Exclusively to War Correspondence

Apr 25, 2023 • Tim Mak

The epic battle that saved Kyiv from Russian occupation

Feb 22 • Tim Mak

The grave of Ukraine’s first F-16 pilot killed in action

Aug 31 • Alessandra Hay, Anastasiia Kryvoruchenko, Tim Mak, Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova, and Oleksandr Matviienko

NEWSFLASH: Russia wracked by rebellion; Putin denounces “treason” in emergency speech

Jun 24, 2023 • Tim Mak, Christopher Allbritton, William Glover Weiss, and Ross Pelekh

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Recent posts

What’s the purpose of a moment of silence?

Far more important than money or aid: human lives. For one moment the whole of Ukraine paused for a moment of silence to honor its fallen. But so far…

Oct 2 •

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

Who owns delicious, delicious borsch?

The Russian government has (no joke) cited borsch as one of the reasons for the war in Ukraine. We enter the kitchen of Ukraine's premier chef to talk…

Sep 30 •

,

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

, and

Why doesn’t Ukraine have a national military cemetery?

Families of the fallen have criticized the site, design & contracting process. The long-delayed memorial to Ukraine’s fallen - Kyiv’s version of…

Sep 28 •

Oleh Tymoshenko

and

Imagining the Russian empire's collapse

The Russian empire is made up of many nations, forced under authoritarianism to exist under a single state. Some Ukrainians believe Ukraine won't be…

Sep 25 •

Mariana Lastovyria

and

Oleh Tymoshenko

1940s massacre threatens to tear Ukraine & Poland’s friendship apart

The killings in Volyn are a historical event with serious repercussions for Ukraine’s future. Poland, one of its closest allies, threatens to block…

Sep 21 •

Mariana Lastovyria

The funeral for Ukraine chief rabbi's son

In this reporter’s notebook, we explore the history of the Jewish Ukrainian community and the life of Matityahu Samborsky, through the words and actions…

Sep 19 •

Oleh Tymoshenko

and

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

Know anyone who works in the defense industry?

We’re launching a new trade publication: Counteroffensive Pro. It’s not for your average reader. But if you know someone who works for a defense/VC…

Sep 17 •

and

Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova