SNAPSHOT-Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Kyiv 'needs more time' before counteroffensive

May 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine is holding fire until more Western armoured vehicles arrive before it starts its long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview released on Thursday.

"We still a bit more time," Zelenskiy said in the interview with European broadcasters.

CONFLICT

* The founder of Russia's Wagner Group mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin said Ukrainian units had begun their counterattack, and were approaching Bakhmut from the flanks.

* 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.

* A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil storage depot in the Russian border region of Bryansk, the local governor said on Thursday. There were casualties.

* Russia's military operation against Ukraine is "very difficult" but certain goals have been achieved, Tass agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

BLACK SEA GRAIN DEAL

* Russian President Vladimir Putin could speak with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at short if regarding the extension of the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal, the Kremlin said as talks on the matter continue in Istanbul.

NUCLEAR PLANT

* Russian forces are planning to evacuate more than 3,000 workers from the town that serves the occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant, resulting in a "catastrophic lack" of personnel, Ukraine's state-owned Energoatom company said.

SANCTIONS DEBATE

* European Union states held an initial discussion about proposed sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine that would target Chinese and Iranian firms and allow export curbs on third countries for busting trade restrictions.

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.

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(Compiled by Reuters editors; Editing by Angus MacSwan)