**Ukrainian Forces Outsmart Russians in Kursk Direction**
On November 14, Ukrainian forces executed a clever tactical maneuver to defeat Russian mechanized units in the Kursk direction. The Ukrainians allowed the Russians to advance through lowland settlements before cutting them off from high ground positions in forests and hills.
**Russian Spearhead Eliminated**
The Ukrainians perfectly executed a complex plan to eliminate the Russian spearhead while maintaining their combat potential. This led to the complete encirclement of the Russian assault group. The Russian relief operation launched on the Ukrainian flanks also ended in disaster, resulting in high casualties for the Russians.
**Russians Penetrate Deep into Ukraine**
As reported earlier, Ukrainians destroyed 15 armored vehicles with mines and drones at Malaya Loknya. However, Russians managed to penetrate deep into Ukrainian territory, driving through multiple towns in the northern part of the salient. The Ukrainians realized that holding on to settlements would be costly, so they temporarily abandoned them and returned to better positions.
**Ukrainian Strategy**
The road and settlements leading to Malaya Loknya run through lowlands surrounded by forests and hills. Ukrainians withdrew from the settlements to high ground, allowing the Russian convoy to pass through. The Russians dropped off infantry groups in the settlements, but these groups were left vulnerable without support after the mechanized forces were destroyed.
**Encirclement of Russian Forces**
Ukrainians rapidly moved into gaps and encircled the Russian soldiers stuck in the settlements. The Russians sent armored vehicles to break through, but Ukrainians did not allow them to pass through, destroying several Russian armored vehicles. Russian analysts confirmed that no reinforcements reached their soldiers, who were cut off for days relying on supplies dropped from drones.
**Massive Casualties**
Russians increased pressure on the Ukrainian western flank, launching five waves of mechanized assaults on Novoivanovka in one day. Ukrainians inflicted massive casualties, destroying 18 out of 29 Russian armored vehicles. However, Russians were able to land infantry groups, posing a threat to the Ukrainian western flank.
**Ukrainian Counterattack**
Ukrainians sent mechanized assault groups supported by Bradley Infantry Fighting vehicles to clear out Russian positions. The Ukrainian modifications to the Bradley’s armor allowed them to shrug off hits from Russian FPV kamikaze drones and safely deploy their infantry.
**Russian Casualties Soar**
Russian casualties soared, with over 300 men lost during failed assaults on Novoivanovka and subsequent counterattacks. Russian analysts stated that Ukrainians had effectively localized the threat of the initial Russian spearhead and taken back control over settlements.
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