Hope As A Counteroffensive In Ukraine
Amplifying Ukrainian Voices to Challenge Russian Propaganda
I spent an hour talking with Kyiv-based American journalist Tim Mak, founder of the "The Counteroffensive," at a time when the military situation in Ukraine is worsening, and a Trump administration beholden to Putin is poised to occupy the White House.
I was preparing our conversation for broadcast today as I read the news that Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. Despite efforts by North Korea and Russia to conceal their alliance, the truth is now undeniable: North Korean soldiers are actively participating in Russia's assault on Ukraine.
Two critical takeaways from our interview:
Dictators around the globe are watching to see if democracies will rally to defend Ukraine as they draft plans for future military invasions.
The bone-weary, exhausted, yet unstoppable spirit of Ukrainians offers the world a profound source of strength and hope that ought to inspire responsibility as well.
Here’s a quick excerpt to share with your Congressional and Senate elected officials:
You can listen to the full interview here:
Follow Tim Mak and the Ukrainian journalists of "The Counteroffensive" on Substack here:
Previously an investigative correspondent for National Public Radio, Tim Mak covers national security, politics, and the role of emerging technologies. He is also the author of Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA, an in-depth look at the organization's inner workings.
In May 2023, Mak launched The Counteroffensive, a newsletter that combines narrative journalism with personal accounts from Ukraine during Russia's invasion. As he told Slate magazine, his goal is to deliver "deeply-reported human interest stories that humanize events."
Through The Counteroffensive, Mak provides readers with intimate, firsthand accounts of the war, highlighting the resilience of ordinary Ukrainians and the broader stakes of this conflict. His work not only informs but inspires, shedding light on stories that might otherwise remain untold.
Mak's reporting emphasizes the human dimension of the war in Ukraine and the fight for democracy worldwide. Publishing three times a week, he offers a war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. By focusing on the experiences of everyday Ukrainians, Mak counters Russian propaganda, delivering a nuanced and humanized perspective of the conflict while challenging the narratives propagated by Russian state media.