diff --git a/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh b/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
index 69697486..48b4b2a7 100755
--- a/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
+++ b/backend/services/deploy-mining.sh
@@ -962,64 +962,63 @@ full_reset() {
         fi
     done
 
-    # Strategy 2: Fallback - send tombstones via kafkacat (Kafka Connect 3.5 or earlier)
-    # Only use this if REST API didn't work
-    if [ "$rest_api_worked" = false ]; then
-        log_info "REST API method not available, trying tombstone method..."
+    # Strategy 2: Always try tombstone method as primary approach
+    # The offset topic name is configured via OFFSET_STORAGE_TOPIC env var in Debezium Connect
+    # Default is "debezium_offsets" (not "connect-offsets"!)
+    local offset_topic="debezium_offsets"
+    log_info "Sending tombstones to offset topic: $offset_topic"
 
-        # The offset key format is: ["connector-name",{"server":"topic.prefix"}]
-        for connector in "${connectors[@]}"; do
-            # Map connector name to topic prefix
-            local topic_prefix=""
-            case "$connector" in
-                "auth-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.auth" ;;
-                "contribution-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.contribution" ;;
-                "mining-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.mining" ;;
-                "trading-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.trading" ;;
-                "mining-wallet-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.mining-wallet" ;;
-            esac
+    # The offset key format is: ["connector-name",{"server":"topic.prefix"}]
+    for connector in "${connectors[@]}"; do
+        # Map connector name to topic prefix
+        local topic_prefix=""
+        case "$connector" in
+            "auth-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.auth" ;;
+            "contribution-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.contribution" ;;
+            "mining-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.mining" ;;
+            "trading-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.trading" ;;
+            "mining-wallet-outbox-connector") topic_prefix="cdc.mining-wallet" ;;
+        esac
 
-            local offset_key="[\"$connector\",{\"server\":\"$topic_prefix\"}]"
-            log_info "Sending tombstone for: $connector (key: $offset_key)"
+        local offset_key="[\"$connector\",{\"server\":\"$topic_prefix\"}]"
+        log_info "Sending tombstone for: $connector (key: $offset_key)"
 
-            # Try using kafkacat/kcat to send tombstone (NULL message)
-            # -Z flag enables NULL message delivery
-            # -K| sets key separator to |
-            # First try Debezium Connect container (might have kafkacat), then Kafka container
-            local tombstone_sent=false
+        # Try using kafkacat/kcat to send tombstone (NULL message)
+        # -Z flag enables NULL message delivery
+        # -K| sets key separator to |
+        local tombstone_sent=false
 
-            # Try Debezium Connect container
-            local connect_container="rwa-debezium-connect"
-            if docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/null | grep -q "^${connect_container}$"; then
-                if docker exec "$connect_container" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
-                    if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$connect_container" kafkacat -P -Z -b kafka:9092 -t connect-offsets -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                        log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (debezium-connect) for: $connector"
-                        tombstone_sent=true
-                    fi
+        # Try Debezium Connect container first (has kafkacat)
+        local connect_container="rwa-debezium-connect"
+        if docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/null | grep -q "^${connect_container}$"; then
+            if docker exec "$connect_container" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
+                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$connect_container" kafkacat -P -Z -b kafka:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
+                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (debezium-connect) for: $connector"
+                    tombstone_sent=true
                 fi
             fi
+        fi
 
-            # Try Kafka container if Debezium Connect didn't work
-            if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
-                if docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
-                    if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kafkacat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t connect-offsets -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                        log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (kafka) for: $connector"
-                        tombstone_sent=true
-                    fi
-                elif docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kcat &>/dev/null; then
-                    if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kcat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t connect-offsets -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
-                        log_success "Sent tombstone via kcat for: $connector"
-                        tombstone_sent=true
-                    fi
+        # Try Kafka container if Debezium Connect didn't work
+        if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
+            if docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kafkacat &>/dev/null; then
+                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kafkacat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
+                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kafkacat (kafka) for: $connector"
+                    tombstone_sent=true
+                fi
+            elif docker exec "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" which kcat &>/dev/null; then
+                if echo "${offset_key}|" | docker exec -i "$KAFKA_CONTAINER" kcat -P -Z -b localhost:9092 -t "$offset_topic" -K \| 2>/dev/null; then
+                    log_success "Sent tombstone via kcat for: $connector"
+                    tombstone_sent=true
                 fi
             fi
+        fi
 
-            if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
-                log_warn "Could not send tombstone for $connector"
-                log_warn "Neither kafkacat nor kcat available, offset may persist"
-            fi
-        done
-    fi
+        if [ "$tombstone_sent" = false ]; then
+            log_warn "Could not send tombstone for $connector"
+            log_warn "Neither kafkacat nor kcat available, offset may persist"
+        fi
+    done
 
     # Wait for offset changes to be processed
     log_info "Waiting 5 seconds for offset deletions to be processed..."