Tim Mak moved to Ukraine in 2022, a day before war broke out. Tim, a former US investigative correspondent, decided to stay and start up his own reporting at Counter Offensive. He now reports from Kyiv.

On the podcast, Tim discusses the day-to-day life in war-torn Kyiv, focusing on the chronic stress rather than immediate physical danger residents face. He recounts his critical role in documenting human stories from the war front and shares his personal journey, having moved to Ukraine right as the war began. We touch on the operational challenges and ethical considerations in war reporting, the importance of human interest stories, and how new technology like AI affects journalism. Tim talks about the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict and his hopes for the future of independent journalism.

Transcript and link to site: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/7/31/tim-mak-war-reporting-journey-in-ukraine-podcast

Contents

• 00:25 Life in Kiev During Wartime
• 03:10 Tim's Arrival and Early Experiences in Ukraine
• 04:57 Launching The Counter Offensive
• 05:24 Human Interest Stories and Subscriber Growth
• 09:50 Challenges and Ethics in War Reporting
• 14:14 The Power of Individual Narratives
• 25:42 Independent Journalism and Future Prospects
• 34:55 Geopolitical Reflections and Ukraine's Needs
• 44:34 Final Thoughts and Advice