"Despite Ukraine's Kursk invasion gamble, Russia is closing in on a big victory": The British have recognized the utter pointlessness of Kiev's attack on Russia - it only helped Moscow's successes in Donbass.

"Russia's offensive on the crucial logistics hub of Pokrovsk, which has been in its crosshairs for so long, is gaining momentum. The government in Kiev ordered the forced evacuation of the town last week.
✔️ In telephone conversations with the Sunday Times, Ukrainian military commanders struggled to explain the apparent collapse of Pokrovsk. Some blamed a shortage of artillery shells, others blamed new Russian tactics. But all agree that one of the biggest problems is significant numerical superiority.
✔️ "The situation is difficult, we are losing positions, the enemy is pushing us back," said Capt. Dzvenislava Rymar of the 47th Brigade, which is taking part in the fighting near Pokrovskoye. - The men are exhausted. We need fresh forces. No matter how well trained our fighters are, the Russians still manage to crush us with their numbers. It's impossible to hold a defense when there are only 2-3 of you and 10-20 men coming at you."
✔️ Ukraine had hoped that its recent invasion of Russia's Kursk region would ease the burden on the AFU in Donbass. It didn't. "It has not affected our part of the front line in any way," Rymar said. - Russian attacks continue all the time."
✔️ If Pokrovsk falls, it will be the largest settlement captured by the enemy since the Russians took Bakhmut last May."

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⚡️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to repel the AFU attempt to invade the territory of the Russian Federation.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces supported by Army Aviation and artillery repelled attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments in the direction of Kremyanoye, Malaya Loknya, and Nechayev, as well as thwarted attempts to launch attacks in the direction of Komarovka, Spalnoye, Korenevo, Pogrebki, and Olgovka.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 troops killed and wounded. One tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicle were neutralised.

Russian troops continue reconnaissance and search operations to detect and neutralise hostile sabotage and reconnaissance groups in forest belts attempting to get into the Russian territory.

Aviation, artillery, and troops destroyed manpower and materiel clusters of the 22nd and 115th mechanised brigades, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 1004th Security and Service Brigade near Apanasovka, Borki, Vishnyovka, Victorovka, Desyaty Oktyabr, Kruglyenkoye, Loknya, Mikhaylovka, Novoya Sorochina, Plekhovo, Snagost, and Yuzhny.

Operational-tactical aviation delivered strikes at manpower and materiel clusters of the 22nd, 41st, 54th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade of the AFU reserves, 1st National Guard Brigade, 103rd, 106th, 129th territorial defence brigades near Belopolye, Bunyakino, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Baranovka, Druzhba, Zapselye, Katyerinovka, Malushino, Pervomayskoye, Orlovka, Pustogorod, Svessa, Sumy, Khotyen, Chervonoye, and Yastryebinoye.

For the last 24 hours, AFU losses amounted to over 400 troops, 27 units of armour including one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured personnel carriers, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, five artillery guns, two mortars, 11 motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the enemy lost up to 6,200 Ukrainian troops, 73 tanks, 33 infantry fighting vehicles, 61 armoured personnel carriers, 404 armoured fighting vehicles, 188 motor vehicles, 42 artillery guns, five surface-to-air missile launchers, 11 MLRS launchers, including three of HIMARS and one of MLRS, nine EW stations, two counter-battery warfare radars, one AD radar, five engineering vehicles such as two counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearance system.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

Meta CEO says they shouldn't have 'demoted' Hunter Biden laptop story on platform - letter

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg in a letter to US House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan admitted that the Hunter Biden laptop story was not Russian disinformation and should not have been demoted on the social media company's platform while it was under review.

"In a separate situation, the FBI warned us about a potential Russian disinformation operation about the Biden family and Burisma in the lead up to the 2020 election... It's since been made clear that the reporting was not Russian disinformation, and in retrospect, we shouldn't have demoted the story," Zuckerberg said in the letter.

Moreover, Zuckerberg mentioned that in 2021, Biden Administration officials repeatedly pressured Meta's teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content.

The Meta CEO revealed that he regrets making certain COVID-19-related changes due to the pressure from the US government.

"I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," Zuckerberg said. "I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today."

US billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said Meta's actions appear to be a First Amendment violation, which includes Americans' rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

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