Good morning to readers. Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

And I’m back in the capital.

The counteroffensive for which this publication is named after may still be a ways off.

Ukraine is waiting for more equipment from its western partners, Zelenskyy said.

"We can go forward and be successful," Zelenskyy told reporters.

"But we'd lose a lot of people. I think that's unacceptable. So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time."

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-counteroffensive-needs-time-zelenskyy-says/a-65588225

Ukraine updates: Counteroffensive needs time, Zelenskyy says

A planned counteroffensive against Russian forces will have to wait until the military has had more time to prepare, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Meanwhile, the EU and G7 are discussing sanctions. DW has the latest.

Deutsche Welle

Meanwhile the head of the Wagner Group, the Russian mercenary organization, said that Ukraine's counteroffensive is “in full swing.” “Zelenskyy is lying,” said Yevgeny Prigozhin.

https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-group-prigozhin-zelenskyy-ukraine-counteroffensive-full-swing-2023-5

Wagner boss says Ukraine counteroffensive in 'full swing' amid counterattack

But Ukraine has reportedly called it a "positional struggle," and Zelenskyy has said Kyiv still needs more time.

Insider
It's the topic on everyone's lips in Kyiv, where I returned last night. Some think that the shaping and reconnaissance operations that make up the ‘pre-Counteroffensive’ have already begun.
"Ukrainian forces likely broke through some Russian lines in localized counterattacks near Bakhmut," the Institute for the Study of War assessed in their Thursday night update.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-11-2023
Institute for the Study of War

Ukrainian forces likely broke through some Russian lines in localized counterattacks near Bakhmut, prompting responses from Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD). Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Commander

Institute for the Study of War
Another Ukrainian told me: “You know, when it starts, they’re not going to sound a horn, and say, ‘ATTENTION, THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE IS STARTING!’”

The Counteroffensive newsletter today begins with Andriy Stepanenko, a pseudonym for a Ukrainian drone pilot we visited in the hospital today. We cover his injuries, and his greatest fear for the counteroffensive. Hope you'll subscribe, free or paid:

http://counteroffensive.news

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak | Substack

A war correspondent's open notebook, reporting live from Kyiv. Compelling human stories that illustrate what’s happening during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Click to read The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

Even as the country braces for this major combat operation, there is this fear among soldiers – Andriy Stepanenko being just one of them – that many civilians are returning to a pre-February 2022 mentality.
@timkmak I understand that one cannot remain on a war-footing forever but this is a bit worrisome. I'm not there but from the outside, it really does not look like the danger has passed. I can imagine if the Ukrainians get close to Crimea, it might have a wider effect on the rest of Ukraine. But I really can't blame people for wanting a bit of peace and relaxation. As always, thank you for your updates!