Tim Mak

So what's the takeaway here? Sibylline CEO Justin Crump put it plainly: you can't bolt drones onto an old system. #Ukraine built its military around them from day one. The #US built its systems without drones. There's no quick fix for that, just a long rebuild.

President of South #Korea Lee Jae-myung accused #Ukraine of breaching an NDA after #Zelenskyy publicly revealed that two North Korean #POWs would be transferred to South Korea. He stated that the repatriation of North Korean prisoners is an extremely sensitive issue. https://x.com/Jaemyung_Lee/status/2103121845297783156?s=20

One expert put the shift bluntly: taking fire from the ground is one thing. Having someone hover 20 feet overhead dropping grenades on you is a different kind of bad.

Want to know more, read the full story via the link https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/russias-poorest-regions-thrive-on

As the rate of domestic violence rises in #Russia, Russia's #MoD is angling to take back a portion of sign-up bonuses from servicemen who break the law. This comes as Russia seeks to combat rising crime rates, as servicemen, some of whom are former convicts, return home. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-strip-contract-soldiers-one-off-payment-if-laws-violated-home-2026-09-08/

Since August 31, #NATO fighter jets have taken off three times after #Russian aircraft violated NATO airspace. #Russia has increased its violations of NATO airspace, which has raised concern over a possible Russian #attack on neighboring NATO member states. https://kam.lt/reagavimo-i-orlaiviu-skrydzius-prie-baltijos-valstybiu-sienu-duomenys-rugpjucio-31-rugsejo-6-d/

#BELARUS CONDUCTS MILITARY EXERCISE NEAR #NATO BORDERS: As part of military training, Belarus has amassed an unknown number of troops, including mechanized and tank units, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense. https://t.me/modmilby/58786

THE LATEST #NEWS AT THIS HOUR: #RUSSIAN SATELLITES LIKELY HELPED #IRAN STRIKE #US BASE: According to a CNN investigation, Russian spy satellites have probably helped Iran target U.S. assets in the Middle East. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/16/world/video/russia-spy-satellites-iran-intelligence-strikes-us-assets-digvid-invs

On #july 21, #zelenskyy dismissed Oleksandr #syrskyi from his post as #commanderinchief of the #ArmedForces of #ukraine — presumably listening to thousands of protesters’ #requests to do so.

For centuries, #Japan has relied on U.S. support and pacifist status as a cornerstone of its security. But that sense of stability is now shaken.

#RUSSIA TRIES TO OVERWHELM #UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: Russia started Operation Postman in May, sending complaints to Ukrainian government agencies and law enforcements, RBC-Ukraine reported. Russians use personal information of real Ukrainians and send emails with complaints on their behalf. They base complaints on issues existing in Ukrainian society with the aim of overwhelming the bureaucratic system and feigning public discontent. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/spetsoperatsiya-pochtalon-rosiya-pochala-1788182216.html

EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE NIGHT OF U.S. #STRIKES ON #IRAN: On #July 19, the U.S. launched its eighth consecutive night of #strikes against #Iran. This came after two U.S. #soldiers were #killed in an #Iranian #attack on a U.S. #military base in #Jordan on July 17. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/19/world/live-news/iran-war-trump

Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today: With 86 votes, the U.S. Senate advances the bill to sanction Russia and Iran to the next step in Congress. The legislation allows President #Trump to impose additional restrictions for buyers of #Russian and Iranian energy. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-28/us-senators-announce-deal-on-new-russia-iran-sanctions-bill

After 13 straight #nights of #USA #strikes on #Iran — and #iranian retaliation — the strikes just... stopped. https://www.iranwar.news/p/why-did-the-us-stop-striking-iran

#global #protests AGAINST U.S. #strikes ON #Iran : On July 26, #antiwar #demonstrators gathered in several countries. In the #uk protesters held a #rally outside the gates of RAF Fairford — a base hosting U.S. #Air #force personnel. https://aje.news/17jfvn?update=4805070

Before #2022, the engineers at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZPNN) — the largest in #europe — weren't revving up for an #invasion . They knew what to do without #electricity and were prepped for natural #disasters but a full-on occupation of their plant? Not something they’d prepared for.

Here’s what The #Counteroffensive is reading today: #Russia attacked #Ukraine with what appears to be N. #Korean missiles. This will be the 1st time Russia has used these missiles on Ukraine in a year, indicating Russia likely received a new batch of weapons from its allies. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/russia-likely-used-nkorean-missile-deadly-ukraine-strike-first-time-this-year-2026-07-30/

Also in today's #News …CAUSING #oil #prices TO DROP https://www.iranwar.news/p/why-did-the-us-stop-striking-iran

Explore what human-centered #war #reporting looks like Stay tuned to #Iran #war Dispatches Catch our #newsletters through the link https://www.iranwar.news/

THE #latestnews AT THIS HOUR: #trump HALTS #strikes ON #Iran : On July 25, for the first time in almost two weeks, the #US did not strike Iran. According to #axios after thirteen consecutive days of approving strikes on Iran, Trump rejected plans to #Attack the country. https://www.axios.com/2026/07/25/trump-iran-war-military-directive-strikes

Captivated by this #story ? Without your #support these #stories can’t be told! Engage with us through the link https://www.iranwar.news/p/can-saudi-arabia-build-a-nuclear

THE U.S. MAY #LAUNCH A GROUND ASSAULT ON #IRAN: On July 19, #Iranian #lawmaker Abbas Papizadeh told the ILNA #news agency that #Washington could launch a ground assault on #Iran. It would first capture the #StraitOfHormuz and then it would launch a ground attack from the south, west, and east. https://www.iranintl.com/en/202607196720

#ukraine #strikes #iranian #vessels : On July 25, #zelenskyy announced that #ukrainian #forces achieved "very strong #results ” during long-range strikes in the #caspiansea , including “#military #cargo shipments involving #Iran .” https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/7/25/iran-accuses-ukraine-of-deadly-attack-on-caspian-commercial-vessel

Oleksandr was a #nuclear #engineer at the #power plant in #Zaporizhzhia when #russians encircled it in early #march 2022. The #plant sat just a few hundred kilometers #north of Russian-occupied #crimea which meant the #troops were able to move to capture it within days of the full-scale #invasion .

Then, Oleksandr said, normal #life became full-scale #war in just seconds. “Imagine being in #Washington #dc and getting dropped in the middle of #donbas .”

This #decision came on the sixth day of #protests sparked by the #dismissal of #defense #minister Mykhailo #Fedorov as many #ukrainians feared post-Soviet #military thinking had prevailed over #modern #warfare .

#TRUMP INVITES #RUSSIA TO #G20 MEETING: The Trump administration invited Russia’s Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, to the G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, Politico report. The decision was opposed by #EU officials, who also refused to take a photo with Siluanov. This is the first time Russia attended the forum in person since 2022. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/31/bessent-welcomes-russia-back-to-g20-as-europe-pushes-back-01058296

Last winter Karina* watched people run around with clipboards, while other workers brought in a fridge with sparkling water to put somewhere in the office in central Ukraine.

THE LATEST NEWS AT THIS HOUR: BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS TO BE SCALED DOWN: Celebrations marking the start of the school year, which begins on September 1, will be held only if the security situation allows it, Ukraine’s PM announced. https://suspilne.media/1392242-risenna-sodo-provedenna-urocistostej-z-nagodi-1-veresna-maut-uhvaluvati-sami-gromadi-koreckij/

Here’s what Oleksandra is listening to today: https://youtu.be/9AverhY6qAo?si=brWC1fbWuhHhwP2J

Captivated by this story? Without your support, these stories can’t be told! Engage with us through the link https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/ukraines-scam-centers-at-the-heart

On the ground, troops raced toward the crash sites while drones tracked their every move. One kamikaze drone blew a hole clean through the wall soldiers were using for cover.

Over the past five days, Russians have been launching mostly #jet-powered #Shaheds one after another. As a result there were more than 10 air raid alerts each day in #Kyiv, accompanied by #explosions and the sounds of air defense systems operating.

KYIV, Ukraine - #Russians are constantly adapting their tactics to inflict as much damage as possible on #Ukrainian cities while keeping civilians in fear and tension.

Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today: In recent attacks, #Russia destroyed around 12 million books by targeting publishing houses and book markets. Ahead of the new school year, Russia has reportedly destroyed a third of the books published in #Ukraine this year. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly5v8qmy64o

If you missed our latest story about how Ukraine's Air Alert app went from a work chat idea to a tool used by millions in just days, read it here: https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/why-luke-skywalker-announces-russian

Karina began to realize something was deeply wrong, as all the workers were Ukrainians using fake foreign names. She was right. The cozy office was a scam call center.

In this issue, The Counteroffensive breaks down how #Ukrainian manufacturers are taking on the growing threat of #Shahed #drones equipped with jet engines. If you want to know more, read our full story: https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/five-days-of-terror-with-russian

What looked like a scary workshop from the outside turned out to be a comfortable, neat space on the inside, with coffee machines, a kitchen, and other amenities. “I’m Stacy,” one of her new colleagues introduced herself. “You will have to call me like that.”

#POLAND RAMPS UP DOMESTIC #DEFENSE PRODUCTION: Poland spent $8.15 billion on defence procurement from Polish companies and joint ventures with central European countries last year — four times more than in 2022, according to Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/poland-pivots-home-grown-defence-production-it-builds-europes-biggest-army-2026-09-01/