(Reuters) – * President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion force had yet to start even as his generals claimed some of their biggest battlefield successes in months.
Kyiv says it has pushed Russian forces back over the past several days near the eastern city of Bakhmut while a full-blown counteroffensive is still being prepared.
“We still need a bit more time,” Zelenskiy said.
CONFLICT
* Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Thursday that the situation on the flanks near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was unfolding in line with the “worst of all expected scenarios”.
* A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil storage depot in the Russian border region of Bryansk, the local governor said on Thursday. There were no casualties.
* Russia’s military operation against Ukraine is “very difficult” but certain goals have been achieved, Tass news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
BLACK SEA GRAIN DEAL
* Officials from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Thursday discussed U.N. proposals on a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.
ARMS
* South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government was looking into news reports that South Africa provided weaponsto Russia.
* Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, a Western official said on Thursday, which would allow its forces to hit Russian troops and logistics hubs deep behind the front line.
ECONOMY
* Ukraine raised record proceeds from selling small stateassets in the first quarter of this year despite Russia’s invasion and aims to privatise thousands more in an economic overhaul, the head of the State Property Fund said.
INSIDE RUSSIA
* Two Russian soldiers from Kamchatka in the far east have been sentenced to two-and-a-half years each in prison for refusing to fight in Ukraine, human rights group OVD-Info said.
IN-DEPTH STORIES
* INSIGHT-How Russians end up in a far-right militia fighting in Ukraine.
* EXCLUSIVE-Turkey defers $600 mln Russian energy payment -sources
* EXCLUSIVE-Oilfield firm SLB retrenches as Russia sanctions squeeze
* FOCUS-Why eastern Europe’s grain producers face a perfect storm
* INSIGHT-Ukraine farms lose workers to war, complicating tough harvest
* ANALYSIS-Russia’s mercenary boss deepens fog of Ukraine war while deflecting blame
* COLUMN-Global ammunition race may decide Ukraine war
(Compiled by Reuters editors; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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