PRAGUE, July 7, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
admitted in Prague Thursday that Ukraine's counteroffensive was "not fast"
but said Kyiv's troops were advancing.

Zelensky arrived in Prague as part of a diplomatic push for Ukraine to join
NATO and woo allies for more weapons for its mounting pushback against
Russia.

"The offensive is not fast, that's a fact. But nevertheless, we are
advancing, not retreating, like Russians," Zelensky told reporters alongside
Czech leader Petr Pavel. "We now have the initiative."

Zelensky traveled to Prague to meet Pavel hours after visiting Bulgaria, a
major supporter and ammunition producer, also to discuss NATO membership and
more armaments.

On Friday he is scheduled to hold talks in Istanbul with Turkish leader Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, an important broker in the conflict.

Zelensky told reporters that slow weapons deliveries to Ukraine have delayed
Kyiv's counteroffensive, allowing Russia to bolster its defences in occupied
areas.

- Cluster bombs -

In Washington US media reported that the Pentagon was preparing a new package
of arms and ammunitions that could include controversial cluster bombs.

The weapons, rockets which disperse multiple small explosives over a wide
radius, have already been used by Russian and Ukrainian forces in the war.

Officials said a final decision had not been made. Pentagon spokesman Pat
Ryder said Thursday that the cluster munitions that could be supplied are
more recent models with low "dud rates" -- the percentage of bomblets that do
not immediately detonate.

"The ones that we are considering providing would not include older variants
with dud rates that are higher than 2.35 percent," Ryder said.

Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in a tweet that he had spoken
by phone to US Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.

The two "talked about new projects related to supplying various types of
ammunition. Stay tuned for the good news," Reznikov wrote.

But human rights groups condemned the plan, saying the bomblets can go
undetonated and remain at the location for years posing threats to civilians.

"Cluster munitions used by Russia and Ukraine are harming civilians now and
will leave bomblets behind that will continue to do so for many years," Human
Rights Watch said in a new report Thursday.

"Both sides should immediately stop using cluster munitions and not seek to
obtain more of these indiscriminate weapons. The US should not transfer
cluster munitions to Ukraine," it said.

- Prigozhin 'not in Belarus' -

In Russia, the Kremlin criticised Zelensky's visit to Bulgaria, saying the
Ukrainian leader was trying to "drag" other countries into the war.

Meanwhile the mystery deepened as to the fate of Wagner chief Yevgeny
Prigozhin, 12 days after the collapse of his short-lived mutiny.

Originally Prigozhin was said to have been exiled in Belarus.

But Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko -- who mediated a deal to end the
revolt -- said Thursday that the Wagner leader wasn't in his country.

"As far as Prigozhin is concerned, he is in Saint Petersburg... He is not in
Belarus," Lukashenko told reporters in Minsk.

Lukashenko said he knew "for sure" that Prigozhin was free.

Lukashenko also said Wagner mercenaries have not established a base in
Belarus yet, despite a Kremlin offer for attempted mutiny participants to
relocate.
 
- 'Ceiling started to fall' -

Meanwhile Russian missiles fell on Lviv killing at least five, the biggest
attack on civilian infrastructure in the western Ukrainian city since the
Russian invasion in February 2022, the city's mayor said.

Russia's defence ministry said its long-range, precision strikes overnight
had hit all the designated targets, but did not specifically mention Lviv.

Ukraine Interior Minister Igor Klymenko wrote on Telegram that the missiles
had struck a residential building and destroyed its upper floors.

Some 37 were wounded, including a child, officials and the emergency
services.

UNESCO said the missiles also struck a building in the buffer zone of Lviv's
historic center, calling it a violation of the World Heritage Convention.

Rescuers were working to reach those still trapped in the bombed residential
building, and AFP footage showed emergency responders clearing rubble and
wood from the gutted first floor.

"I woke up from the first explosion, but we didn't have time to leave the
apartment," said Olya, 37.

"There was a second explosion, the ceiling started to fall, my mother was
immediately hit," she said.

She said her mother and neighbors died in the attack.

"At this point, it seems that I was the only one who survived from the fourth
floor. It's a miracle," she said.