**Day 1021: Russian Offensive Falters in Kursk**
There are significant updates from the Kursk direction on December 10. The Russian offensive has been disastrous, with their forces struggling to hold ground as Ukrainian troops continue to gain momentum.
**Civilians Protests Force Putin to Act**
Civilians caught in the crossfire have intensified protests, forcing Putin to fire the governor of Kursk. This is a dramatic response to the mounting failures of the Russian offensive.
**Russian Counter-Offensive Fails**
The third wave of the Russian counter-offensive in Kursk aimed to capture Malaya Loknya. However, after nearly two months of daily assaults, their efforts failed to make any significant territorial gains. Ukrainian forces were able to adapt and prepare for the attacks, reducing their effectiveness.
**Ukrainian Forces Gain Momentum**
Ukrainian troops correctly anticipated Malaya Loknya as the next target of the Russian offensive. They fortified the area and heavily mined the roads, eliminating countless Russian mechanized assaults over the past month.
**Social Unrest Increases**
The fighting has displaced nearly 150,000 people, with many refugees expressing frustration with the Russian civilian and military administration‘s failure to provide adequate housing and support. Putin recognized that growing social discontent among the refugee population could spread if the situation wasn’t addressed.
**Putin Fires Governor of Kursk**
To address this, Putin dismissed Kursk Governor Alexis Smirnov, blaming him for Russia’s failure to respond effectively to the Ukrainian incursion and its aftermath. He was replaced with Alexander Kinshtin.
**Russian Failure to Adapt Tactic**
As the Russians failed to adapt their tactics from their initial assaults, Ukrainians were able to organize a strong defense and effectively countered the Russian approach. This led to the Russian offensive stalling and falling short of its objectives.
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