???? Link to unlock discounts and privileges: https://www.rfuplus.com/first-special... ???? Visit our website: https://www.rfunews.com Today, there was a lot of interesting news from the Kursk direction. The Russian offensive ended in a disastrous fiasco, leaving its forces struggling to hold their ground, while Ukrainian troops continue to gain momentum. Amid growing unrest, civilians in Kursk - caught in indirect fire - intensified their protests, forcing Putin to fire the Kursk governor in a dramatic response to the growing setbacks. The third wave of the Russian counteroffensive in Kursk aimed to execute a pincer movement towards Mala Loknia from two axes, intending to cut off a large number of Ukrainian troops in the northern part of the Kursk sack. Russian forces sought to repeat their initial success at Korenev, using mechanized assault units to rapidly penetrate the Ukrainian rear. However, after almost two months of daily assaults, their offensive had failed to produce any further significant territorial gains, and efforts to capture Mala Loknia ultimately collapsed. Russian tactics involved deploying large mechanized assault groups that used full speed along paved roads to bypass Ukrainian front lines and quickly reach rear positions, dismounting and attacking from unexpected angles. This tactic had previously been successful, allowing Russia to capture Zeleni Shlyakh and break Ukrainian defenses in the north. However, the recurrence of these counterattacks since August allowed Ukrainian forces to analyze and anticipate Russian strategies. This insight allowed them to adapt and prepare for a third wave of counterattacks, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Ukrainian forces correctly predicted that Mala Loknia would be the next target of the Russian offensive, allowing them to fortify the area and heavily mine the roads, effectively eliminating countless Russian mechanized attacks in recent months. Unlike the terrain near Korenev, the roads to Mala Loknia are flanked by elevated positions near Novoivanivka and Pogrebek, giving the Ukrainians a key advantage in detecting and targeting Russian units with artillery. Drones provided constant surveillance, allowing for a quick response. This multi-layered defense allowed Ukrainian tanks to intercept Russian columns, neutralizing mechanized units and halting the offensive. Repeated waves of Russian attacks resulted in only minor territorial gains near Novoivanivka, where small groups of Russian troops briefly held positions. These gains came at a high price, however, as heavy losses in troops and equipment severely depleted Russian offensive capabilities, creating opportunities for Ukrainian counterattacks. Footage from the area shows a Ukrainian Bradley infantry fighting vehicle using a 25-millimeter cannon to suppress Russian positions. This suppression allowed Ukrainian soldiers to dismount and successfully overwhelm the Russian positions, ultimately regaining control of Novoivanivka. As the Russian offensive slowed into slow, furious battles that destroyed most of the villages in the area, widespread popular discontent grew among Russian civilians, especially refugees from the conflict zones. The fighting displaced nearly 150,000 people, or almost 10 percent of the Kursk region's population. Many of these refugees expressed frustration with the failure of the Russian civil and military administration to provide adequate accommodation and support during their resettlement, as their homes and belongings were abandoned and actively destroyed by the ongoing fighting. Putin recognized that the growing social discontent among the refugee population could spread if the situation, particularly with regard to the offensive and housing issues, was not perceived as stabilizing. To address this, he dismissed Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov, blaming him for Russia's lack of effective response to the Ukrainian invasion and its aftermath, replacing him with Alexander Chinstein. The dismissal was delayed for months as the Russian government downplayed the impact of the Ukrainian offensive. However, the continued failure to eliminate the Kursk sack eventually forced the political leadership to recognize the gravity of the situation and removed him from office. Overall, because the Russians failed to adapt their tactics to the initial attacks, the Ukrainians were able to organize a strong defense and successfully counter the Russian approach.