Good #morning to readers; #Kyiv remains in #Ukrainian hands.

May #2026 may have been the worst month for #Russia since 2023. Despite a record-breaking 7,000 ground #attacks, #Russian only gained 14 sq km of land and has a #budget #deficit already 55% over the annual target.

https://open.substack.com/pub/counteroffensive/p/uninvited-drones-ruined-putins-big?r=7a4iis&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Uninvited drones ruined Putin’s big economic party

We are introducing analytical digests to help you understand Ukraine’s battlefield, politics, and newest technologies.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak
Tim Mak held a #livestream with George #Barros, Director of #Innovation and Open Source Tradecraft at the Institute for the Study of #War (#ISW), about the latest on the #Russian #economy and #battlefield situation in #Ukraine
Despite the #record number of #drones launched against #Ukrainian cities and ground attacks on the #frontline, #May2026 might be the worst month for #Russia since the Ukrainian #counteroffensive of autumn 2023.

We consulted open-source #data aggregators and asked #experts about strategic #updates on the #war in #Ukraine so you can know what is happening on the #battlefield.

A #frontline update: month 51 of the full-scale #invasion

On the #battlefield, #Ukraine is regaining tactical #advantage at certain sections of the frontline. According to the analytical group #DeepState, the number of #Russian ground #attacks jumped by 37.5 percent compared to April...
...and reached a record-breaking 7,000, but #Russia only captured 14 sq. km of Ukrainian #territory . For the first time since October 2023, it endured a negative net gain.
Uninvited drones ruined Putin’s big economic party

We are introducing analytical digests to help you understand Ukraine’s battlefield, politics, and newest technologies.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak

#NEWS OF THE DAY

#PUTIN SEES NO POINT IN MEETING WITH #ZELENSKYY: On June 5, at the St. #Petersburg International #Economic Forum (#SPIEF), Putin rejected Zelenskyy's #proposal for an in person #meeting

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/05/putin-rejects-zelenskyys-offer-to-meet-and-reaffirms-ukraine-war-aims

Putin rejects Zelenskyy’s offer to meet and reaffirms Ukraine war aims

Russian president describes Ukrainian counterpart’s letter as rude and says he sees no point in face-to-face talks

The Guardian

#UKRAINIAN NAVAL #DRONE EXPLODES IN #ROMANIAN #PORT: A Ukrainian #naval drone exploded in the port of Constanta, #Romania, on June 5. This is the second time in a week that a Ukrainian drone has exploded in Romania, as Ukraine blamed #Russian #electronic #warfare

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/marine-drone-self-detonates-romanian-black-sea-port-defence-ministry-says-2026-06-05/

#PUTIN LIES ABOUT #SUCCESS ON THE #FRONT, #ISW SAYS: On June 5, Putin claimed that Russian #troops were advancing along the entire front line and had #occupied 85 percent of #Donetsk region and 80 percent of #Zaporizhzhia region, and had reached #drone parity with #Ukraine

https://unn.ua/en/news/putin-lied-about-the-russian-armys-successes-during-the-st-petersburg-forum-isw

Putin lied about the Russian army's successes during the St. Petersburg forum - ISW

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin rejected negotiations with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced plans to continue the war. ISW emphasizes that Russia's successes at the front do not correspond to reality.

UNN
@timkmak
Putin and Trump drink different flavors of Kool-Aid.