First, reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Ukraine says its counteroffensive now delayed; Britain says it’s sent cruise missiles to Kyiv, by Susie Blann and Jill Lawless | AP KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in remarks broadcast today that Kyiv is delaying its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia’s occupying forces, saying that while such a campaign would succeed, too many Ukrainian lives would be lost. The broadcasts came shortly before Britain said it has sent air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine that would allow pilots to target locations deep behind the front line. A . . . READ MORE . . .
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Wagner boss Prigozhin: Ukrainian offensive has started around Bakhmut flanks. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The founder of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin said today that Ukrainian units had begun their counterattack, and were approaching Bakhmut from the flanks. On Wednesday, both Prigozhin and the Ukrainian military said that Kyiv’s forces had routed a Russian army unit near . . . READ MORE . . .
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Western weapons, experience harden Ukrainian air defenses against Russian onslaught, by David Rising and Hanna Arhirova | AP NEAR KYIV — By the time Kyiv residents hear the air-raid sirens signaling an imminent Russian attack, Ukraine’s air-defense units are already on the move. From camouflaged positions, they dart out by truck to farm fields around the capital, ready to take down enemy drones or missiles. The units have intercepted every drone and missile fired at the capital since April 28, when . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine says Russian forces pulling back after Bakhmut attacks. From AFP. A senior Ukrainian military official said Wednesday Russian forces had dropped back from some areas near Bakhmut after limited counterattacks by Kyiv’s forces in the longest-running battle of Moscow’s invasion. Commander of Ukrainian ground forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine needs ‘a bit more time’ to prepare for counteroffensive – Zelensky. From Tass. LONDON — The Ukrainian army needs a little bit more time to prepare for Kiev’s much-vaunted counteroffensive, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with European media outlets, including the BBC, published today. “With . . . READ MORE . . .
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Erdogan, Putin may discuss results of grain deal talks – source. From Tass. ANKARA — The Presidents of Turkey and Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, may discuss the results of grain deal talks in Istanbul in a phone conversation if necessary, a source in Ankara said today. “This . . . READ MORE . . .