The whole OPSEC thing is real at the beginning of these operations, as it can create some delays in Russian responses, but beyond that the main "OPSEC" consideration is not showing individual positions Ukraine captured to keep the soldiers safe. Anyone who is mapping these counteroffensives without using their own information from the ground is not putting anyone at risk.

I covered the counteroffensive from the day after it was launched on May 22, and made regular updates on it throughout the next 3.5 months up to now. While the chronology is likely not perfect due to a lack of information, and the frontline will never be 100% accurate, I was still one of the only people in the world who did this. And the thing is, I probably only put around 80-100 hours of work into these Lyman posts during the 3.5-month period. Sure, I had to dig deeper due to the OPSEC regime in place, but it was absolutely doable. Technically anyone else could have done this, but it was only really me and a couple other people (Suriyak and Thorkill).

There's a fine balance with this sort of stuff. Yes, OPSEC is very real in today's war - far more so than in 2022, 2023, 2024, or even 2025. When very few soldiers are actually on the "line of contact", mapping a position as controlled based on your info from the ground can actually endanger them. But after the higher Russian command is aware of the counteroffensive, pretending it's not happening is useless, and only mapping precise control zones is the dangerous part. So I do understand why such an influential mapping project like Deepstate didn't post any updates on it as even if they were to purposefully show a very simplified or incorrect frontline, it could still be used by some lower command for targeting positions, potentially putting Ukrainian soldiers at risk. But ordinary OSINTers aren't going to change anything as long as they are purely using open sources for their mapping, like me.

In my opinion, there is another reason for this beyond the very real issues surrounding OPSEC. If you map a 4-month-long counteroffensive in a single update, even if you specify that it took place over 4 months, it still creates a subconscious illusion for some that it was a lightning counteroffensive. It also means that the heavy casualties taken are largely ignored.

I wonder if the U.S. will respond to today's massive Iranian ballistic missile attack, or if they will prove once again that Iranian deterrence is extremely effective.

The interceptor missile stockpiles keep getting lower and lower, and production rates are nowhere near being able to keep up.

It's crazy to think that the U.S. burned through over 2 months worth of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors during today's massive Iranian ballistic missile attack.

A Russian Geran-4 jet-drone destroyed a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet at Vasylkiv Airbase, Kyiv Oblast.

The same aircraft was seen flying past the drone prior to the strike.

A Russian Geran-4 jet-drone targeted a Ukrainian UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopter of the GUR at Zhulanyi Airport in Kyiv on September 4.

Alright fine, I'll see if I can do a Yemen map. Lot's of people have requested this to me so I'll see what I can do lol.

If you have any good sources for Yemen, please link them below in the comments.

Ansarallah ballistic missile strike on King Khalid Airbase in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

CBS news reports that 9 U.S. aircraft were damaged in yesterday's Iranian ballistic missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, with one A-10 Thunderbolt having a wing torn off.

Additionally, roughly 8 F-15 fighter jets sustained "light damage", and have reportedly since returned to service.

Update: Iranian deterrence remains in place.

It turns out you can launch 30 ballistic missiles, target at least 3 different bases, 2 warships and multiple commerical vessels, damage at least 9 U.S. aircraft, and the U.S. won't respond.

Insane what a lack of interceptors can do to the American decision-making process 😁

2 days ago he was denying a Russian withdrawal from the salient north of Lyman lol

A Russian Geran-4 jet-drone is maneuvering over Kyiv, likely either conducting reconnaissance or a battle-damage assessment of previous strikes.

Ukrainian mobile fire groups are trying to shoot it down.

Saudi airstrikes are targeting the port city of Hodeidah, Yemen.

Yemen Civil War - Situation on the Mocha Front:

In the last few hours, Ansarallah forces continued their offensive along the Red Sea Coast, capturing the villages surrounding the strategic port city of Mocha. Under the cover of rocket and missile strikes, Ansarallah entered the city, prompting a full withdrawal of the PLC forces.

Since then, Ansarallah has been able to establish full control over Mocha and the highway to the east, and have initiated a new offensive southwards along the highway towards Al-Mazaq.

Here's the link to my new interactive Yemen Civil War map.

It's not 100% accurate yet, but I've updated to represent the current situation as of the time of writing.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1MHwxG5UQ01MnfSOVs2iC9LGepEuiby0&usp=sharing

Russian forces have captured the village of Pavlivka, Stepnohirsk direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Vasylivka District).

Pre-war population: ~174.
Total land area: ~0.80 km².

The second battle for Pavlivka lasted approximately 25 days.

Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village of Filiya, Novopavlivka direction, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Synelnykove District).

Pre-war population: ~133.
Total land area: ~0.35 km².

The second battle for Filiya lasted approximately 20 days.

The Russian Ministry of Defence issued a statement regarding their overnight attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure.

In Odesa Oblast, the MoD claims to have struck a distribution centre at a customs terminal at Chornomorsk Port, allegedly used to unload and store military cargo supplied by Western countries; as well as two dry cargo ships allegedly transporting military cargo and a tugboat accompanying them.

In Mykolaiv City, they claim to have struck a warehouse containing drones.

Today was Day 61 of Russia's large-scale missile and drone strike campaign against Ukrainian port infrastructure