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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/

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

Ukrainian clothes are undergoing a modern resurgence.

In the face of Russian aggression, designers like Anastasia preserve Ukrainian heritage through items like embroidered blazers, and traditional bags called taystras.

timkmak OP ,
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When the full-scale invasion began, Anastasia Boyko thought about fleeing Ukraine to keep her three-month-old baby safe.

Instead, she decided to help the war effort using her great-grandmother’s love of embroidery.

These days, Ukrainian clothes are undergoing a renaissance.

Modernized, their various elements return to the catwalks and everyday wardrobe.

Ukrainians wear them to stay connected to the past that Russians desperately wanted to destroy.

timkmak OP ,
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Though vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, is perhaps the most famous element of national clothing, other elements are contributing to the country’s traditions as well.

Items like plakhta, which are unstitched, belted skirts; sylyanka, beaded necklaces; sharovary, wide pants traditionally worn by men; or krayka, a narrow belt.

timkmak OP ,
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Would you like to know more?

This thread is only a condensed version of our story.

Read today's article in full through the link.

https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/cutting-edge-ukrainian-fashion-isnt

timkmak OP ,
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Anastasia has found a novel way of working with her heritage to create something new: her signature style is decorating vintage blazers with Ukrainian embroidery.

It became an outrageous success: she unveiled her main collection in April 2022, and in two days, ‘1991 Etno Studio’ managed to sell out the entire collection.

timkmak OP ,
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When the full scale invasion began, the marketing agency she owned was forced to close down.

All of her sources of income were cut off. But still, she decided to stay in and make clothing that would be a clear statement of her identity, and protest against the war.

timkmak OP ,
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Ukrainian embroidery is full of different symbols and ornaments.

But as it turns out, there is no agreed guide saying what each particular ornament means.

Instead, each embroiderer defines the exact sense of the symbols they use.

timkmak OP ,
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Ukrainians have to deal with the problem of not knowing what their original clothes looked like.

The USSR desperately tried to stereotype Ukrainian culture as being simple: restricted only to red satin sharovary (men's wide trousers), and cheap wreaths with plastic flowers.

The consequences were dramatic.

Without proper representation of their identity for decades, entire generations of Ukrainians perceived their cultural heritage as something insignificant and ridiculous.

timkmak OP ,
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This week, Ukrainians celebrated Vyshyvanka Day, honoring the national costume, which has become a tool to display Ukrainian resistance since the start of the war.

The Vyshyvanka has long been a symbol of Ukrainian pride.

However, as designers like Anastasia Boyko have shown, the Ukrainian national costume is more than just the Vyshyvanka.

timkmak OP ,
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“It’s important to remember our culture and traditions. Of course, we should keep up with global fashion trends, but wearing Ukrainian clothes that would remind us of our identity every day, not only during Christmas or Easter, isn’t that hard,” says Anastasia.

timkmak OP ,
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NEWS OF THE DAY:

ZELENSKYY WARNS RUSSIA COULD INCREASE ATTACKS:

… and that Ukraine is not well-equipped to defend against them, the BBC reported.

"Today we have about 25% of what we need to defend Ukraine," he said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgy4gkqkddo

timkmak OP ,
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... AND MORE ALLEGED WAR CRIMES IN KHARKIV REGION:

Russian shelling led to the killing of a 13 yo girl, a 16 yo male, and an eight yo, The Guardian reports, in what Ukrainian prosecutors said was a potential war crime involving the deliberate targeting of civilians.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/19/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-accuses-russia-of-targeting-civilians-in-kharkiv-region

timkmak OP ,
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ZELENSKYY CHIEF GETS WAPO TREATMENT:

A wide-ranging profile of Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, includes Ukrainian critics saying that the unelected official has consolidated too much power during a time of war.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/18/andriy-yermak-power-chief-ukraine/

timkmak OP ,
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UKRAINE DESTROYS RUSSIAN MINESWEEPER:

Ukrainian officials said that it had eliminated the 'Kovrovets' in the last day -- part of a pattern of Ukraine's victories on the Black Sea, the Kyiv Independent reports.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-navy-says-it-destroyed-russian-sea-minesweeper-kovrovets-overnight/

timkmak OP ,
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Thank you for your continued support!

https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/cutting-edge-ukrainian-fashion-isnt

timkmak , to Random stuff
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Here's what The Counteroffensive is reading today:

has asked the U.S. for help identifying targets to strike inside Russian borders.

The West has been cautious about Ukraine striking anything more than oil refineries inside for fear of sparking a wider conflict.

https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-asks-for-u-s-help-in-striking-targets-inside-russia-c1aeac22?st=qbbl8x4emy948fl&reflink=article_copyURL_share

timkmak OP ,
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Despite the U.S. aid bill passing, some Ukrainian frontline units are still suffering severe ammo shortages.

One Ukrainian 155mm artillery crew says they used to fire 100 shells a day, now it’s barely 10.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-struggles-hold-eastern-front-russians-advance-cities-2024-05-18/

timkmak OP ,
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has refused President Macron’s Olympic Cease Fire proposal citing concerns that would use any lull in fighting to move troops and re-arm.

Macron’s proposal would offer a truce during the summer Olympic Games in Paris.

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-zelenskyy-rejects-france-macron-olympic-truce-russia-war/

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

Detectorists - Johnny Flynn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q58Gm18-IMY

timkmak OP ,
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Follow along with The Counteroffensive through the link to stay up to date with your favorite group of journalists on the ground in Ukraine!

Thank you for your continued support!

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timkmak , to Random stuff
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NEWSFLASH: KYIV IN THE DARK

Earlier this week, a box I haven’t seen in over a year appeared in our office elevator.

The brown box is marked for emergencies, and includes water, cookies and diapers — in case you are trapped inside the elevator when the power goes out.

timkmak OP ,
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There was no fanfare about it, but it was a signal that Kyiv was once again preparing for Russia’s collective punishment in the form of blackouts.

The situation has suddenly worsened— not only for the immediate future but the whole trajectory of civilian life in Ukraine.

timkmak OP ,
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Electrical engineers had been able to come up with various plans to keep the on, but this week, they started coming up short, he said. Electrical imports from other countries can only do so much, and consumer demand went up due to a cold snap in

timkmak OP ,
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Russian strikes destroyed the largest power plant in the Kyiv region last month; the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant has stopped producing energy; and various generation sites in Kharkiv have also been destroyed -- among many others that have been targeted in recent months.

While Ukraine is importing electricity from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, this will not compensate for the loss of generating capacity.

timkmak OP ,
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This has made emergency blackouts inevitable. All regions of Ukraine are now facing rolling power outages, the Energy Ministry of Ukraine said.

The Russian strikes and the damage will continue "as degraded Ukrainian air defense capabilities persist until US-provided air defense missiles and other Western air defense assets arrive at scale,” the ISW recently reported.

timkmak OP ,
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The Counteroffensive’s team has been hard at work planning for possible emergency scenarios: evacuation routes and methods, prolonged internet outages.

We need batteries, and sources of heat; we need emergency food and water; we need to be prepared to go days without power.

timkmak OP ,
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Myroslava laughed a little at my focus on preparedness. I am mapping out all sorts of worst case scenarios — fire, nuclear bombs, chemical attacks — a very American or Canadian mentality, she teased.

Ukrainians, she explained, simply grit their teeth and deal with the problems when they arise.

My mentality is one that’s been drilled into me through the military: two is one, and one is none.

timkmak OP ,
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timkmak , to Random stuff
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Here's what we are reading today:

By mid-week was 20 miles from city. If they are within 15 miles they can hit the city with 152 mm which could cause immense damage and people to flee the city.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/ukraines-defences-thin-on-ground-as-russia-advances-on-kharkiv

timkmak OP ,
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Sri Lanka has sent a delegation to Russia to bring back 600-800 Sri Lankans that are believed to be fighting in Russia.
The men are promised high salaries and Russian citizenship. There have also been similar reports of Nepalese and Indian citizens fighting in the Russian army.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/16/7456153/

timkmak OP ,
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There will be rolling throughout today, announced Ukrenergo, a Ukrainian energy company.

This is due to recent cold weather which has led to increased energy use. power plants are struggling to meet these demands following attacks on

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/16/7456125/

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

Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx4kLgnFexo

timkmak OP ,
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Don't miss our next issue, and catch up on previous ones through the link!

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spocko , to Random stuff
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During the questioning of Michael Cohen they are talking about his relationships with reporters. But will they bring up how Cohen threatened former Daily Beast reporter Tim Mak on Trump's behalf regarding a story about Trump raping his first wife as revealed in their divorce papers.

Here is the audio from June 1, 2018 on the Majority Report

Here's my contemporaneous piece on the use of threats by & .
https://crooksandliars.com/2018/06/who-else-did-cohen-threaten-and-pay

video/mp4

timkmak ,
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@KatM @spocko no notes

timkmak , to Random stuff
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Blackout in Kyiv. Second one in my area today.

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have stretched the city to the breaking point.

Here’s one of the office mascots, This is Fine Dog, under a red headlamp I’m wearing

timkmak OP ,
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There was definitely a sense that if the energy infrastructure were to be attacked, it would be in the winter.

The spring attacks were both surprising and took place after a collective sigh of relief had already taken place

timkmak OP ,
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I’m sitting in the dark, watching people across the street swing their flashlights wildly around in their own apartments

timkmak OP ,
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As it happens, today is vyshyvanka day — a day to celebrate the traditional Ukrainian folk attire.

Here’s our team before the power outages, earlier today

timkmak , to Random stuff
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Here's what we're reading today:

In #Vovchansk, #Kharkiv region, where active hostilities are taking place, the first executions of civilians by #Russian troops have been reported, police said. A man who tried to flee on foot was killed. Civilians are also being captured.

Evacuations had been taking place, but now the Russian military, trying to gain a foothold in the city, is not allowing locals to evacuate.

https://www.dw.com/uk/klimenko-vijska-rf-berut-v-polon-ta-rozstriluut-civilnih-u-vovcansku/a-69095571

timkmak OP ,
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Using a loophole in sanctions, is disguising Russian oil as its own and exporting it to the , bringing billions in profits to , Politico writes.

Between February 2023 and February 2024, Turkey increased its purchases from Russia by 105% compared to the previous 12 months. During the same period, Turkish fuel exports to the EU increased by 107%.

https://www.politico.eu/article/how-turkey-become-vladimir-putin-pit-stop-sell-camouflage-fuel-eu/

timkmak OP ,
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Russian forces advancing up to 4 miles in several areas within 5 days raises doubts about Kyiv's defense, The Guardian reports.

Despite warnings from , ISW, and British intelligence, 's preparation was hampered by insufficient fortifications and a four-month pause in arms deliveries.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/ukraines-defences-thin-on-ground-as-russia-advances-on-kharkiv

timkmak OP ,
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Following an apparent assassination attempt yesterday on Slovak PM Robert Fico, he underwent surgery and is now in stable but serious condition.

is a pro-Russian politician who took office in October 2023. After his party won the elections, Fico opposed military aid to .

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/16/7456044/

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

Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I

timkmak OP ,
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timkmak OP ,
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@DeeGLloyd plus we lost power here in central Kyiv for the first time in a long time

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

are succeeding in their assault on due to: delayed aid, poor fortifications and battlefield tactics and is benefitting from the US preventing from using weaponry on Russia territory, Max Boot writes for the Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/13/russia-kharkiv-ukraine-us-blunders/

timkmak OP ,
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Last night Blinken played Neil Young's song 'Rocking' in the Free World' in a bar with the band 19.99. While a 19.99 band member said the performance was important, many in feel the performance was disrespectful given the situation on the front.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/15/antony-blinken-rock-performance-in-kyiv-bar-divides-opinion-in-ukraine

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

Stefania - Kalush Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Z51no1TD0

timkmak OP ,
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